Annabelle Ham, a YouTube star from Atlanta with nearly 80,000 subscribers, has died following an “epileptic event.” She was 22.
Ham’s family confirmed the heartbreaking news on the social media personality’s Instagram page yesterday (July 18).
“We’re writing this with heavy, heavy hearts. Annabelle experienced an epileptic event and has gone on to the gates of heaven,” they wrote. “She struggled with this for a long time and wanted to raise awareness for it, which we will do in honor of her.”
They continued, “Annabelle was beautiful and inspiring and lived life to the fullest. Everyone she met was inspired by her energy and the light inside her soul that shined so bright. She was, and will forever be, so so loved. We’re asking for your prayers of peace for her family and friends during this difficult time, and to allow all of us the chance to grieve and work through this as a family.”
According to The Daily Mail, Ham was attending a bachelorette party in Fairhope, Alabama over the weekend when she was reported missing. A Facebook post made by the Fairhope Police Department revealed that she was last seen walking on a pier before she was later found dead.
While an official cause of death has not yet been announced, Ham’s sister, Alexandria Ham, told The New York Post that the late YouTuber “struggled with epilepsy for a while.”
Ham first started posting on YouTube in 2014 before expanding to TikTok and Instagram. The Kennesaw State University student vlogged about her life as a college student and shared makeup and beauty tips.
“Annabelle was such a light to the world. A spark-plug,” Alexandria wrote of her sister following her death. “If you knew Annabelle, you loved her and loved being around her. She loved others so well too. Please keep my family in your prayers.”
In a separate post, her other sister, Amelia Ham, paid tribute to the influencer.
“Sometimes I don’t understand why god does things but, I can’t even put into words how hard this is,” she said. “You would never think something like this would or could happen to you until it does. Annabelle was such a good sister to Alexandria, and me. She was amazing, she has gone to so many places seen and done so many things.”
Amelia continued, “She was so sweet, so pretty with the most bluest eyes ever, she was always happy and lighted up every room. But god was ready for her. I know she always wanted to live life to the fullest, that’s what we have to do now. And I know she is dancing around in heaven right now. I can’t wait to give u a big hug one day.”