influencer Esther Thomas has he died after being operated on.
“Greetings… We, the family of Esther Thomas (AKA Sunshine), are heartbroken to announce the sudden passing of our beloved sister and daughter Esther Thomas, who passed away suddenly on January 9, 2026 after an unsuccessful surgery,” shared a statement through Thomas. Instagram on Saturday January 10, read.
The statement continued: “She had (a) fibroid and they operated on her so she couldn’t do it, so we’re trying to get things back in place so we can rest.”
Several users accessed the comment section for share your condolences.
The online community honored the lives of several social media influencers who died in 2025. In April, nursing influencer Hailey Okula died at the age of 33 after giving birth to her first child. Her husband, Matthew Okula, confirmed that she died of an amniotic fluid embolism (AFE). Dr. Precious Barnes, DO, specialized family physician (…)
“Never in my wildest dream did I think of writing (RIP) to my best friend let alone my birthday all day this one my friend can’t sing 🎶 happy birthday song today as always 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 he was getting better when I called, the first time I felt like this was when I lost my mom,” wrote one user.
Another added: “I was actually hoping the news was fake💔 I can’t even explain how I feel but tbvh (sic) this one really touched me😔 you were such a nice, dedicated and hardworking person, my deepest condolences to your family during this time🙏🏾 and may you find rest and peace my lord. ❤️🕊️.”
Thomas, who accumulated more than 136,000 followers on Instagram, she was known for her online skits and collaborations with other Nigerian internet stars. Chidera Madu, for one, Thomas mourned in a video shared after his death.
Madu explained to the Instagram The clip shared on Sunday, January 11th that Thomas “complained that he had a stomach ache” on December 28th. Her condition worsened on January 1 and she was hospitalized.
Madu claimed that scans were carried out and doctors determined that Thomas’ fibroid had “grown so big”. He went on to allege that the doctor suggested that Thomas undergo an operation to remove the fibroid and relieve his pain.
Influencer Gracious Teiyan has died at the age of 26. Kenyan media outlet Tuko reported that Teiyan was taken to a hospital after suffering severe migraines on September 14. He died two days later. Teiyan’s fiancé, Paul Simat, told the network that he died of sinus thrombosis, which the Cleveland Clinic describes as a rare disease (…)
“The pain was getting out of hand,” Madu said.
Although Madu alleged that the doctor said Thomas’ operation was “a success”, he had “complications” and died.
Days before Thomas’ death, the influencer reflected on her mantra for the new year.
“2026 is coming… Get rid of negative people. Forget your past. Accept your mistakes. Restart your life,” Thomas wrote via Instagram in December 2025, along with a series of photos of her posing in a red dress. At the end of the slide show, the text read: “I was hot all year, no recap needed.”
A day later, Thomas reflected on his support from his fans.
“To all my amazing fans, thank you for the constant love, support and encouragement. Your belief in me means more than you know, and I am truly grateful for every message, like and kind word,” she wrote on Facebook in December 2025. “Love you all, see you in 2026.”