Vegan influencer Zhanna Samsonova boasted of weighing 'the same as 18 coconuts' before 'dying of starvation'

14 August 2023, 16:36

Vegan influencer Zhanna Samsonova boasted about weighing ‘same as 18 coconuts’ at just 41kg before ‘dying of starvation’
Vegan influencer Zhanna Samsonova boasted about weighing ‘same as 18 coconuts’ at just 41kg before ‘dying of starvation’. Picture: social media

By StephenRigley

Vegan influencer Zhanna Samsonova boasted that she weighed the same as "18 coconuts" before her death from malnutrition.

The 39-year-old known as Zhanna d'Art, who is feared to have starved to death, posted on Instagram that she weighed just 41kgs after going on an extreme fruit-only diet.

Her official cause of death has not been declared, but her mother is reported to have said she succumbed to a ‘cholera-like infection’. Her family is awaiting final medical reports and the certificate that will establish the cause of death.

Zhanna told her Instagram followers how she spent years eating and drinking just fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, smoothies, and juices.

In one post she was thrilled to announce she weighed 41kgs - the equivalent of 18 coconuts she was holding.

Vegan influencer Zhanna Samsonova who is feared to have 'died of starvation'
Vegan influencer Zhanna Samsonova who is feared to have 'died of starvation'. Picture: social media

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

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

Sharing a picture of herself holding a bunch of coconuts, she wrote: "Being thin doesn't mean weak! Being big and bulky doesn't mean strong!

"Recognise that we all come in different shapes and sizes, and that all people are inherently valuable regardless of the way they look.

"I'm holding the bunch of nine coconuts with just one left hand!"One coconut is about 2-2.3kg, approximately 18-22kg, and my weight is 41kg by the way."

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

She 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."

In Samsonova's last moments, Vera explained that seemed to have finally understood the errors of her ways and replied: "Yes, I was so mistaken."

One of her friends, Olga Chernyaeva, told Russian media how Samsonova could barely walk in the months before her death."I watched her journey to death for seven years. About five months ago, I met Zhanna in Sri Lanka and she had a haggard look.

"Her legs were swollen... It was amazing that she was still moving - I think she did it through pain."

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.

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.”

Days before she died, Samsonova shared the haunting last message: "Life is meaningless but worth living provided you recognise it's meaningless."T

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

The Princess Royal during a visit to Southmead Hospital in Bristol to thank the team of doctors, nurses and health professionals who treated her following her accident in June 2024.

Princess Anne returns to the intensive care unit where she had treatment for head injuries

Breaking
Breaking News

California utility says its equipment likely sparked fire that raged through LA

Yusuf Kayat, 54, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, has been jailed for 20 years

Paedophile who plied girl, 10, with alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis before grooming her for sex with other men jailed

Salim Iskef, 29, was one of ten people killed by lone gunman Rickard Andersson, 35, at Orebro's Risbergska adult education centre on Tuesday.

Heartbreaking final words of Sweden mass shooting victim shared with mum and fiancé revealed

Exclusive
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks to the media during a visit to Springfields (Preston Lab), National Nuclear Laboratory.

UK must make it harder to buy knives online to prevent repeat of Southport killings, PM tells LBC

UK resident comes forward to claim £83m EuroMillions jackpot

UK winner comes forward to claim £83.5million EuroMillions jackpot 13 days after draw

Cold Snap Brings Freezing Temperatures To Parts Of UK

Cold health alerts issued as temperatures set to plummet over weekend as the Beast from the East returns

Lucy Letby has been described as 'dangerous, weird and whining' in jail

'Dangerous, weird and whining': Inside Lucy Letby's life behind bars

A British content creator who flew to Spain to buy olive oil has claimed his whole round trip was cheaper than buying a bottle in the UK.

‘I flew to Spain and bought olive oil for under £7.38 - that's how much a bottle costs in Britain'

Russia's President Vladimir Putin

Foreign Office expels Russian diplomat in retaliation amid 'spying' row

Donald Trump is reportedly set to unveil his 100-day peace plan for Ukraine next week.

Donald Trump poised to unveil '100-day' peace plan for Ukraine next week

Winter sky close to Clitheroe, Ribble Valley, Lancashire, UK.

Warmest January on record smashes global temperatures and leaves climate scientists alarmed

The clamour grows for Lucy Letby to get a retrial. Here is why I think she shouldn't.

The clamour grows for Lucy Letby to get a retrial. Here is why I think she shouldn't

Exclusive
Josh Cuthbert

X Factor star opens up about mental health struggles - and why he won't release more music

Members of a specialist British military unit who shot dead four IRA men in an ambush in Co Tyrone in 1992 used lethal force which was not justified, a coroner has ruled. (File Photo)

SAS unit ‘unjustified’ in shooting dead four IRA terrorists in ambush inquest rules

During a visit from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump announced plans for US ownership of the Gaza Strip, declaring "the Gaza thing has never worked."

Donald Trump claims no US troops will be needed for his plan to turn Gaza Strip into 'Riviera of the Middle East’