Mama Cax, model and activist, dies at 30
Cax, who most recently modeled for Savage x Fenty, passed away earlier this week.
Mama Cax, the Haitian-American model and activist who blazed a trail for differently abled women in the fashion industry, has died. She was 30. Her family confirmed the news on Instagram this morning, writing that Cax had spent a week in the hospital before passing away on December 16.
"To say that Cax was a fighter would be an understatement," the statement read. "As a cancer survivor, she had grown accustomed to taking on life's several challenges head on and successfully. It is with that same grit... that she fought her last days on earth."
Cax — born Cacsmy Brutus — was diagnosed with bone and lung cancer as a 14-year-old and had her leg amputated two years later, after an unsuccessful hip-replacement surgery. She went on to have a successful modeling career though, landing a campaign with Wet n Wild in 2017 and signing with Jag Models soon after. She modeled for Tommy Hilfiger and ASOS, adorned the cover of Teen Vogue, and walked the runway on crutches for Chromat's runway show in 2018.
Most recently, Cax had appeared in the Savage x Fenty runway show in September, and Rihanna was one of the first people to pay tribute after the news was confirmed. “A queen. A force," she tweeted. "A powerhouse beauty that brought her strength to the @savagexfenty stage this year inspiring so many across the globe. Rest In Power sis."