Toddlers and Tiaras star Kailia Posey dies, aged 16

Tragic.

Toddlers and Tiaras star Kailia Posey has sadly passed away at the age of 16.

Kailia's mother Marcy Posey Gatterman shared the devastating news on Facebook on Monday, saying she had "no words" to describe her loss.

"I don’t have words or any thoughts. A beautiful baby girl is gone," she wrote, alongside a picture of her daughter in a beautiful dress.

"Please give us privacy as we mourn the loss of Kailia. My baby forever."

Just last week, she had celebrated her 16th birthday. Kailia was well-known for starring in the TLC reality show Toddlers and Tiaras, which followed young children and their parents who competed in beauty pageants.  During her time on the show, a photo of her grinning and looking to the side became a viral meme. Tributes have been flooding in for the late teenager. A pageant speaking coach who worked with her when she was younger said: "I have experienced a lot of loss in my life, but this one stings differently. Kailia was one the funnest and funniest young ladies that I have ever worked with in my coaching career. "We just exchanged some fun messages recently and she seemed up in spirits. She had such an open care free spirit that had caught fire everywhere that she went." America's Got Talent star Kadan Bart Rockett wrote: “Can’t even believe this has happened. I’m praying for you guys to get through this. She always was so kind to all of us."