Mayday’s family shared the news ina post via their late daughter’s Instagram account.
Mayday was just 30 years old.
“She dreamed of making an impact on people’s lives,” her family wrote.
“She achieved this through the creation of Elly Mayday which allowed her to connect with all of you.
Her constant support and love from her followers held a special place in her heart.”
Her life ended much too soon, but it is one worth remembering.
Here’s the untold truth about the late, the great, Elly Mayday.
As acurvywoman entering the world of modeling, you could see why Mayday would be inspired by the character.
Even after her untimely death, the star is forever cemented into pop culture as Elly Mayday.
“She was a witty, outgoing bird, always looking for a laugh…
I like to think I got my personality from her,” Mayday added.
As a young girl, she witnessed cattle giving birth, which wasn’t always a magical experience.
Still, this wasn’t exactly a typical childhood.
In her spare time, she also started waiting tables.
Through her job with the Canadian airline, Mayday was able to travel everywhere from Jamaica to Cuba.
I love being around people and going to new places."
In fact, her aviation career even provided more inspiration for the alias she would later adopt.
It all began when the young woman entered a pin-up modeling contest at a local car show.
After winning, local companies began contacting her.
“Soon, enough agencies from the U.S. were interested in signing me,” she toldVancouver Sun.
“Instead of stepping out of the light,” she revealed, “I welcomed it.”
In an effort to help other young women, she spoke out about her experience.
Each time, a doctor would prescribe her painkillers and send her on her way.
One medical professional even blamed her pain on her weight.
“The doctor told me to work out my core,” she revealed.
“We’re undermined being younger, being women,” said Mayday.
“I started to realize no one is going to help me unless I help myself.”
Although it seems mind-boggling, the model realized that envy likely played a role.
“It says more about them than me.”
She was body-shamed for losing weight
Throughout her much too short life, Mayday had been bothfat-shamedandthin-shamed.
And, after being diagnosed and going through treatment, others criticized her weightloss.
“Those people weren’t really my fans,” she asserted.
But if you had thought she would retire from modeling, you’d have been wrong.
“Ovarian cancer needs more awareness and more funding,” Mayday toldVancouver Sun.
In an article forFlare, the model revealed that she met with a fertility specialist in 2013.
Mayday underwent a full hysterectomy, which she explained was her “first major operation.”
Treating her cancer aggressively, as she had, was expected to give Mayday the best chance at survival.
But Mayday did more than just hope.
That same year, Mayday partnered with Ovarian Cancer Canada to help raise $100,000 for ovarian cancer research.
Above her head, she held a handwritten sign that read “World Ovarian Cancer Day.”
Instead, she explained, “I like to call myself a cancer ‘thriver.'”
After undergoing aggressive treatment in 2013, her prognosis started to appear hopeful.
However, in 2017, the model’s cancer returned once again.
In April of that year, Mayday revealed some great news in an article forFlare.
Yet and still, that’s just what she did.
And so, she kept on working and kept on fighting.
Fromher Instagram posts, it’s evident that she was intent on encouraging others.
At the same time,she wasn’t one to sugarcoat things either.
What a true testament to her character.
Many would agree she had.
The inspirational film tells the story ofthree plus-size models: Kerosene Deluxe, Laura Wells, and Elly Mayday.
Filmmaker Giovanna Morales Vargas told theVancouver Courierthat Mayday was actually the inspiration for the film.
The two women met while waiting tables many years ago.
Vargas said the documentary had completely changed her views.
“Now I look at people and I want to celebrate them,” she revealed.
And doesn’t that sound like something Elly Mayday would’ve wanted?
