‘Toddlers & Tiaras’ Star Kailia Posey Dead at 16

Kailia Posey, of “Toddlers & Tiaras” fame, has tragically died, according to her mother.

Marcy Posey Gatterman posted on Facebook that her 16-year-old daughter had passed away. "A beautiful baby girl is gone. Please give us privacy as we mourn the loss of Kailia. My baby forever,” she wrote.

No cause of death was immediately given, but her family later revealed that Posey died by suicide.

The family said in a statement to TMZ, "Although she was an accomplished teenager with a bright future ahead of her, unfortunately in one impetuous moment, she made the rash decision to end her earthly life."

Posey shot to fame on TLC’s “Toddlers & Tiaras” and appeared on the show with her mom. It seems she continued to participate in pageants over the years, often posting about them on Instagram.

In April last year she shared a photo of herself at the Ultimate Dream Queen pageant in Las Vegas, while holding a $3,000 check for Ultimate Mega Grand Supreme. Then in January 2022 she posted a photo in a Miss Lynden sash and wrote, “I’m going to be competing in Miss Washington teen USA in February and I am so excited!”

In an old YouTube clip from the show, Marcy talks about Kailia’s competitive nature.

Kailia was only 10 years old in the clip, and Marcy shares, "When Kailia was younger, when she was 3, she started doing pageants. She's a pro when she hits that stage, she'll say she's nervous but once she hits that stage she's a pro. She's gonna beat you, every time." Marcy also explains how she started Kailia’s training as a contortionist at an early age.

“I started stretching her at a month old,” and said “at three or four months” a trainer started “doing her back.” Marcy adds, “Ever since then we haven’t stopped.”