Monalisa Stephen, the Nigerian actress and filmmaker popularly known as Gabacci, has passed away.
Seun Oloketuyi, the movie producer and founder of Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards, announced her demise on Wednesday.
According to Oloketuyi, she died on Tuesday in Lagos following complications from low blood sugar and internal bleeding.
Monalisa’s family and team have yet to release an official statement regarding her death and funeral arrangements.
Gabacci was a vibrant force in Nigeria’s entertainment industry, excelling as a content creator, fashion designer, and filmmaker with over a decade of experience.
She produced the award-winning movie Fatabulous, which earned recognition at the Saskatchewan International Film Festival in Canada, including Best Cinematography and Best Actress.
Beyond her creative work, she was the founder of the LYF Movement, a community dedicated to supporting women and individuals struggling with depression, low self-esteem, and body image issues.
A passionate advocate for mental health, she once described herself as a firm believer in making positive impacts for the world to be a better place.
In 2022, Monalisa revealed that she contemplated suicide after being body-shamed at a social event.
These moments before my departure, I feel more clarity than I have ever felt, finally, I will be free. I will be free from the voices, from the pains, and from you, she had written.
I can’t stand betrayals. I trust too much and too quickly. This is not what I want but I can’t help it, I am just too weak. So I quit.
