Michaela DePrince and her mother passed away within 24 hours of each other

 World renowned ballerina Michaela DePrince, tragically passed away on 10 September 2024, at the age of 29. The cause of her death is unknown. On 11 September 2024, DePrince's mother, Elaine died of an apparent heart attack during a routine procedure in preparation for a surgery. At the time of her death, she was reportedly unaware that her daughter had died.

Michaela DePrince was born Mabinty Bangura, on 6 January 1995, in Sierra Leone. She was orphaned during war when her father was shot, and her mother died of starvation. DePrince suffered from vitiligo, which made her the target of ridicule and bullying by children and adults. She was called the "devil's child" due to her skin condition and often neglected and denied food.

In 1999, Michaela's friend, also named Mabinty, was scheduled to be adopted by the DePrinces. When the family arrived to pick up their child, confusion arose over which of the two girls named Mabinty would go home with them. Amid the confusion, they decided to adopt both girls, naming one Michaela and the other Mia.

In 2011, DePrince and five others were the subjects of a documentary entitled, "First Position," that followed the journey of six young ballet dancers as they prepare for the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix, one of the world's most esteemed ballet competitions. 

In 2012, she joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Dutch National Ballet. In 2013, she joined Dutch National Ballet. 

In 2016, She wrote a memoire with the aide of her mother entitled, Taking Flight. In 2018, it was announced that Madonna would direct "Taking Flight," a biopic about DePrince's life. 

In 2016, Michaela DePrince was featured in Beyoncé's video "Freedom" segment, a song that is a powerful anthem about liberation and overcoming oppression. 

The video was widely praised for its emotional depth and grace, further solidifying her position as not only a world-class ballerina but also a cultural symbol of perseverance. Her role in the video symbolized strength, resilience, beauty and Black womanhood, aligning perfectly with the themes of Beyonce's album Lemonade.

DePrince was a humanitarian, advocating for children affected by war through her work with War Child Holland and in 2019, DePrince produced a gala for the organization.

In 2020, her father died, but due to the pandemic and civil unrest over George Floyd's murder by a Minneapolis policeman, DePrince was unable to attend his funeral.

In 2021, she joined the Boston Ballet and stayed until her death.