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Talia Castellano Dies; YouTube Beauty, Fashion Star Was 13

Talia Castellano, the miniature makeup maven who became a YouTube and CoverGirl star with her own clothing line, has died of cancer at age 13.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share with all of you that Talia earned her wings at 11:22 am,” her official Facebook page announced this morning.

“Please lift her beautiful soul, her beautiful light to heaven and please send love and prayers to her family during this most difficult time.”

The spunky teen gained attention after her YouTube makeup tutorials won over legions of fans across the nation, earning over 40 million views.

Her funny, candid personality and determination in the face of a grim cancer diagnosis made her posts about so much more than just makeup.

 

“For people to see that there are kids that get cancer… it’s just a true fact. Me putting a face on it makes a difference,” she told People in 2012.

“I’ve always been a really bubbly girl, and my mom tells me to think about the positive. Even though cancer is a negative, horrible thing, there are positives.

The fashion-obsessed Florida girl drew fans around the world, including talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who welcomed her to the CoverGirl family.

“How do you stay so positive?” DeGeneres asked Talia, whose cancer treatment options, including a bone marrow transplant, were then running low.

“When people ask me that, I’m just, ‘What do you want me to do? Be depressed?” said Talia, who said her motto was, appropriately, “Just keep swimming.”

DeGeneres added her voice to the thousands of others expressing their condolences today, “This year I met a very special girl, and today we lost her.”

“Sending my heart to Talia’s family. I’m so sad,” she Tweeted.

We all are. R.I.P.

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Martina Birk

Update: 2024-08-28