Fola Francis, a popular Nigerian transgender model, has died.
The fashion designer and LGBT activist will not be present to enjoy Christmas this year, after she drowned five days earlier on December 20, 2023, at Lagos’ IIashe beach.
Vincent Desmond, a freelance journalist, revealed his death in a note on his social media profile on Friday.
He said:
“Fola Francis was a beacon of hope and a light to us and a lot of other people. We are deeply hurt by her passing.
“There will be a memorial which will be discussed at a later date, as we her friends and family ask for privacy at this time,”
Desmond did not elaborate on how Francis drowned.
Fola was the first Nigerian transgender model to walk the runways at Lagos Fashion Week for Cute-Saint and Fruché.