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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Adria R Walker

Beauty influencer Jessica Pettway died of cervical cancer following misdiagnosis

a woman in a bright red dress with long blue hair holds a microphone while sitting
Jessica Pettway speaks at the BET Experience in Los Angeles on 24 June 2017. Photograph: Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for BET

Jessica Pettway, a prominent beauty, fashion and lifestyle YouTube influencer, died on 11 March at the age of 36, after being diagnosed with stage three cervical cancer. Her death came about nine months after she shared her cancer diagnosis with her followers. The mother of two said that she had first been misdiagnosed with fibroids – typically benign uterine tumors – before finding out in February 2023 that the tumors were malignant.

“It brings me so much joy to see how far I’ve come, because a few months ago I received devastating news,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. I don’t even know where to begin, but I want to share why I’ve been gone for so long, in hopes that at least one person is encouraged by my story.

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