A VEGAN Instagram influencer's friends and family say she died of "starvation and exhaustion'' after eating nothing but tropical fruit for four years.
Russian national Zhanna Samsonova, 39, was residing in South-East Asia and reportedly lived off of a raw vegan diet of "fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, fruit smoothies and juices" – and reportedly did not drink water.
According to friends, the influencer switched to a more restrictive diet in recent months, resulting in Samsonova seeking medical assistance.
Her mother Vera Samsonova said she had caught a "cholera-like infection" just hours before she was due to fly home, while a friend of the influencer said: "Ms Samsonova's idle starvation was causing her to melt before our eyes, but she believed everything was fine."
Zhanna's family is waiting for a medical report and a death certificate to confirm her official cause of death.
Read our Zhanna D'Art death blog for the latest news and updates…
- By Henry Moore
What is the difference between a vegetarian and a vegan?
Vegetarians do not eat any animal flesh – this includes cow, pig, chicken and fish.
Vegans go further by not eating anything derived from an animal, including eggs, milk and butter. Honey, meanwhile, is rather divisive in the vegan community.
Aside from food, vegans do not wear or use clothes, shoes or furnishings made with the skins, hair or feathers of animals, such as fur, leather, wool, feathers and silk.
- By Henry Moore
Reports claim Zhanna had 'cholera-like infection'
Reports from Russia claim Zhanna D'Art contracted a "cholera-like infection" prior to her death, which was worsened by her restrictive diet.
Her mother Vera Samsonova said she had caught a “cholera-like infection” just hours before she was due to fly home.
However, Zhanna’s official cause of death has not been released yet.
Her family are waiting for a medical report and a death certificate to show her official cause of death.
- By Henry Moore
What is a vegan?
Veganism is currently defined as "a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose".
The movement was born in 1944 when a small group broke away from the Leicester Vegetarian Society to form the Vegan Society.
The term "vegan" comes from the first and last letters of the word vegetarian.
November 1 is celebrated as World Vegan Day, and The Vegan Society hosts numerous events to celebrate the benefits of the lifestyle.
- By Henry Moore
More on Zhanna D'Art's passing
The Russian national – known as Zhanna D'Art to her social media followers – died on July 21 in Malaysia while on a tour of south-eastern Asia, reports RTVI.
Zhanna Samsonova, 39, previously told how she spent four years eating and drinking just fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, fruit smoothies and juices.
The influencer was an active promoter of a raw food vegan and previously said: “I eat simple food, although I have a lot of experience as a raw food chef. I love creating my own recipes and inspiring people to eat healthier.
“For the last four years, my diet has been only fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, fruit smoothies and juices.
” I only got to this level after five years on a completely raw vegan diet.
“I see my body and mind transform every day. I love my new me, and never move on to the habits that I used to use.”
- By Henry Moore
How many followers did Zhanna D’Art have on Instagram?
Zhanna D’Art was known for her vegan food content and had a sizable following on Instagram.
The late influencer had over 10,000 followers on the social media app.
Friends of Zhanna Samsonova have said her diet had become worryingly restrictive in recent months.
One friend said: ”A few months ago, in Sri Lanka, she already looked exhausted.
”I lived one floor above her and every day I feared finding her lifeless body in the morning. I convinced her to seek treatment, but she didn’t make it.”
- By Henry Moore
Zhanna believed her diet made her look younger
Zhanna D'Art claimed to look younger than her friends thanks to her exotic fruit diet.
Zhanna said: "I feel very sad when I see most of my peers.
"Because of junk food, they look much older than their age."
- By Shanine Bruder
D'Art claimed her diet helped her look younger
Zhanna D'Art once claimed to look younger than her friends thanks to her diet.
Zhanna said: "I feel very sad when I see most of my peers.
"Because of junk food, they look much older than their age."
- By Shanine Bruder
Zhanna D’Art was an active promoter of a raw food vegan
The influencer was an active promoter of a raw food vegan and previously said: "I eat simple food, although I have a lot of experience as a raw food chef. I love creating my own recipes and inspiring people to eat healthier.
"For the last four years, my diet has been only fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, fruit smoothies and juices.
" I only got to this level after five years on a completely raw vegan diet.
"I see my body and mind transform every day. I love my new me, and never move on to the habits that I used to use."
- By Shanine Bruder
When did Zhanna D'Art die?
D'Art died on July 21 in Malaysia while on a tour of south-eastern Asia, reports RTVI.
Her mother Vera Samsonova said she had caught "cholera-like infection" just hours before she was due to fly home.
Zhanna's official cause of death has not been released yet.
Her family are waiting for a medical report and a death certificate to show her official cause of death.
- By Shanine Bruder
Friends say influencer's diet had become worryingly restrictive in recent months
Friends of Zhanna Samsonova have said her diet had become worryingly restrictive in recent months.
One friend said: ''A few months ago, in Sri Lanka, she already looked exhausted.
''I lived one floor above her and every day I feared finding her lifeless body in the morning. I convinced her to seek treatment, but she didn't make it."
- By Shanine Bruder
Vegan influencer Zhanna Samsonova ‘dies of starvation’ after trying to live with an all fruit diet
A Vegan influencer is understood to have died of starvation after attempting to live on a fruit only diet.
Zhanna Samsonova, 39, previously told how she spent four years eating and drinking just fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, fruit smoothies and juices.
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