Kailia Posey. Courtesy Kailia Posey/Instagram
Too soon. Tiaras and ToddlersAlum Kailia PoseyAccording to her mother, she died at 16 years old. Marcy Posey, Gatterman.
“I don’t have words or any thoughts,” Gatterman wrote via Facebook on Monday, May 2, alongside a photo of the late pageant queen at her prom. “A beautiful baby girl is gone. Please respect our privacy as we mourn the passing of Kailia. My baby forever.”
Gatterman shared photos of Poesy during her pageant days and changed her profile picture to one of the girl as an angel in honor of her daughter. An official cause of death is not known. Us Weekly reached the Las Vegas Police Department in order to confirm. “The LVMPD has no record regarding the death of Kailia Posey in an incident occurring in Las Vegas, Nevada,” they said in an exclusive statement. “We have conferred with the Clark County Coroner’s Office, and they do not have any records regarding the death of aKailia Posey.”
Kailia Posey. Courtesy Kailia Posey/Instagram
Posey and her mother appeared on TLC’s reality show multiple times during its run from 2009 through 2013. She competed in the California Tropic Arizona pageant when she was five years old and was named one of the top five. Toddlers and Tiaras’Most famous stars when a face she pulled in an interview became a popular reaction GIF (Graphic Internet Illustration)
“When Kailia was younger, when she was 3, she started doing pageants,” Gatterman said during one of their Tiaras and Toddlers episodes. “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.”
She continued: “Kailia has a very good talent. It is just incredible. I don’t know anybody that’s competition for Kailia.”
After the show, Posey continued competing in pageants, and then branched into acting, appearing on the 2019 Netflix horror film Eli. Posey announced in January that she would compete in the 2022 Miss Washington Teen Pageant. She had won Miss Lynden Teen 2021. “One word. Thankful,” the high schooler wrote via Instagram alongside several photos from the event in February, where she was named second runner-up.
Last month, Posey’s coach, Cambrie LittlefieldShared photos from a recent contest. “HAPPY PAGEANT DAY! From me and my not-so-little anymore princesses!” Littlefield wrote on April 8. “Swipe right to see their pageant glow up! Watching all my sweet girls grow up to be amazing people is the best part of my job.”
Gatterman announced via Facebook on Sunday, May 1 that her daughter would graduate with honors in June 2022. Posey created a new Instagram account on the same day to show off her gymnastics, contortion skills, and one video in which her feet shot an arrow while she was doing a handstand.
Posey’s father and brother, Kyle, are also survivors.
