The news came as a shock: Loana, the first major star of French reality TV, has passed away. The one who captivated millions of viewers in 2001 through “Loft Story” succumbed after years of a highly-publicized and painful downward spiral. For now, the exact circumstances of her death still raise questions, and the prosecutor of Nice, Damien Martinelli, has already announced the opening of an investigation “to determine the causes of death.”
The only details known so far: according to Nice-Matin, Loana’s body was found around 6:00 pm in her apartment on Gounod Street, in downtown Nice. To access it, the firefighters had to go through an open window on the third floor, discovering an apartment “in great disorder.”
Death of Loana: Steevy Boulay’s poignant tribute
In shock, Steevy Boulay, her early accomplice, shared a heartbreaking message on social media. “Your sudden departure leaves me speechless,” he said, describing immense pain and “teary eyes.” For Steevy, Loana was more than just a colleague on set: she was a part of him. Remembering nostalgically their shared memories, from anonymity to sudden glory, he especially recalls their runway show for Jean Paul Gaultier.
“We lived a fairy tale,” Steevy Boulay wrote before delicately addressing his friend’s dark side: “I saw you fall, rise, fight, struggle, give up … You gave your all, until the end.” For Steevy, who knew her at the dawn of her fame, it is now time for rest. He concludes by letting his friend “join the heavens,” his heart forever marked by the one who will remain his dear Loana, his friend forever.
Loana had not been heard from for weeks
Loana’s final days were marked by worrying isolation, as recent testimonies from her close ones reveal. According to Laurent Amar, the star had not been heard from since December. Her last desperate call from a kebab shop phone near her home now sounds like a cry for help. “Laurent, things are very bad. I don’t have a phone, I have no money,” she confessed, before the radio silence set in permanently.
Concerned, her friend even went to her Niçois home about fifteen days ago, accompanied by Loana’s mother. Behind the closed door, only the star’s dog, Titi, responded with barks. While the local shopkeepers tried to reassure, the reality of the woman in her forties had actually deteriorated dramatically, plunging her into absolute distress that no one could prevent.
