Nollywood Mourns as Actress and Body Positivity Advocate Monalisa Stephen Passes Away at 33

Jephthah Nana Adjei Osei - Mensah
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Nollywood Mourns as Actress and Body Positivity Advocate Monalisa Stephen Passes Away at 33
Monalisa Stephen
Written By : Ekow Adjei Mensah


The Nigerian entertainment industry is reeling from the tragic loss of Nollywood actress and plus-size advocate Monalisa Stephen, who passed away on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the age of 33 in Lagos. Seun Oloketuyi, CEO of Best of Nollywood (BON), confirmed the news on Instagram, stating that Monalisa succumbed to complications from low blood sugar and internal bleeding, a fact corroborated by her younger sister.

Known for her roles in films like MAMI WATA in 2023 and BREADED LIFE in 2021, Monalisa was a vibrant force in Nollywood, using her platform to champion body positivity, mental health, and self-love. Her last Instagram post on April 29, where she danced joyfully to Davido’s 10 KILO, now serves as a bittersweet reminder of her vibrant spirit, with fans noting her recent social media silence as a possible sign of her deteriorating health.

Monalisa Stephen, affectionately called Gabacci, was more than an actress, she was a beacon for plus-size women, openly addressing the bullying and body shaming she endured, which many fans now link to her struggles with depression and health issues.

Her advocacy extended beyond Nollywood, as she founded the LYF Movement to support women battling low self-esteem and depression, and produced the award-winning film FATBULOUS, recognized at the Saskatchewan International Film Festival. Her death has sparked renewed conversations about the toll of online harassment and the need for better mental health support in the industry.

However, Monalisa’s passing also raises critical questions about the underlying causes of her death and the broader systemic issues within Nollywood and society. While reports attribute her death to hypoglycemia and internal bleeding, some fans speculate that extreme dieting or slimming trends, possibly spurred by relentless body shaming may have exacerbated her diabetic condition, a theory echoed in comments on social media warning against the dangers of herbal slimming teas. 

This tragedy underscores the urgent need for Nollywood to address the pressures placed on its stars, particularly women, to conform to unrealistic beauty standards, and highlights the lack of robust health and mental wellness resources for entertainers. As the industry and fans mourn, Monalisa Stephen’s legacy as a fearless advocate and talented actress endures, urging a reckoning on how society treats those who dare to live unapologetically.

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