'She did not listen to me': Mum of influencer Zhanna Samsonova who died after adopting raw fruit diet shares anguish

2 August 2023, 11:57 | Updated: 2 August 2023, 12:13

'Vegan' influencer Zhanna Samsonova who died after adopting 'extreme' raw fruit diet ‘hadn’t drunk water in six years’
'Vegan' influencer Zhanna Samsonova who died after adopting 'extreme' raw fruit diet ‘hadn’t drunk water in six years’. Picture: social media
Kieran Kelly

By Kieran Kelly

The mother of a vegan influencer who died after adopting an 'extreme' raw fruit diet has revealed her anguish after her daughter's death.

Zhanna Samsonova passed away on July 21 after seeking medical treatment during a tour in south east Asia.

Her official cause of death is yet to be determined, but her mother is reported to have said she succumbed to a ‘cholera-like infection’.

Zhanna's mum Vera Samsonova, 63, said her daughter "did not listen to her" after warnings over the effects of her extreme diet.

"She is already read, she is no more," Vera told Russian media.

"Please stop writing bad things, it hurts be a lot. She chose this path. I fought for many years [but] she did not listen to her mother."

Zhanna had been following an entirely raw vegan diet for several years and survived on nothing but ‘fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, fruit smoothies and juices.’

Vegan influencer Zhanna Samsonova
Vegan influencer Zhanna Samsonova. Picture: social media

It comes after Zhanna last message was revealed to a cryptic chilling post online.

"Life is meaningless but worth living provided you recognise it's meaningless," it read.

Friends have claimed that for the last seven years she had eaten nothing but jackfruit and the tropical fruit durian, known for its overpowering smell.

“You don’t need to be a doctor to understand where this will lead,” one friend said.

Read More: Vegan influencer Zhanna Samsonova's chilling final post days before she 'starved to death' after 'extreme' fruit diet

Read More: Vegan influencer Zhanna Samsonova 'dies from starvation and exhaustion' after switching to diet of tropical fruit

Her mum said her daughter did not listen to her
Her mum said her daughter did not listen to her. Picture: social media

Another said : “A few months ago in Sri Lanka, she already looked exhausted, with swollen legs oozing lymph.

“They sent her home to seek treatment. I convinced her to seek treatment, but she didn’t make it.”

She used social media to describe her raw diet, saying: “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.”