On Sept. 14, family members announced the “sudden” passing of 29-year-old ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince who many regarded as a trailblazer in the dance world. A cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Michaela’s family wrote that her “life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength” as her steadfast dedication to ballet, coupled with her humanitarian efforts and bravery in facing unimaginable challenges, inspired many to fight for their dreams.
“She has been a beacon of hope, demonstrating that beauty and greatness can emerge even from the darkest of circumstances,” the family added.
From performing with Beyoncé to breaking barriers in the world of ballet, here are five things you should know about Michaela Mabinty DePrince.
1. She overcame adversity living in Sierra Leone.
Michaela’s early life was marked by significant hardship. Born in Sierra Leone during the civil war, she lost her parents due to the conflict in the country at a young age and was sent to an orphanage where she faced extreme poverty and challenges.
“I got out of a terrible place,” the ballet icon told BBC News during a 2012 interview. “I had no idea I would be here – I’m living my dream every single day.”
During her time in the orphanage, Michaela was an outcast due to her battle with vitiligo, a condition in which patches of skin lose pigmentation. The “Aunties” running the orphanage saw this as a sign of an evil spirit in the 3-year-old and treated her with intense hostility, a memory that was forever ingrained in her head. She was given the number 27, which meant she was “least favorite” among the orphans.
“They thought of me as a devil’s child. They told me every day how I wasn’t going to get adopted, because nobody would want a devil’s child,” she said.
Little did Michaela know that hope and transformation were just around the corner. After the heart-wrenching loss of her beloved teacher at the orphanage, she came across a discarded magazine that would profoundly influence her future. On the cover of the magazine was a ballerina, and that moment sparked a dream that would eventually propel her to a distinguished career in ballet.
“There was a lady on it, she was on her tippy-toes, in this pink, beautiful tutu. I had never seen anything like this – a costume that stuck out with glitter on it, with just so much beauty. I could just see the beauty in that person and the hope and the love and just everything that I didn’t have. And I just thought: ‘Wow! This is what I want to be,’” Michaela recalled.
Source: Gallo Images / Getty
