Anna Shay, a star of the Netflix reality series “Bling Empire,” has died after suffering a stroke, her family said.
She was 62.
“Anna taught us many life lessons on how not to take life too seriously and to enjoy the finer things,” her family told People in a statement Monday.
“Her impact on our lives will be forever missed but never forgotten.”
Shay was a prominent cast member on “Bling Empire,” which centers on Asian and Asian American socialites in Los Angeles. A spinoff series set in New York premiered last year.
“I wasn’t even expecting to be in front of the camera,” Shay once told People. “I’m very shy and I went along with whatever situation was happening. I was just being me.”
Shay, who had Japanese and Russian heritage, was the daughter of Edward Shay, the founder of the Pacific Architects and Engineers defense contractor, according to Variety. She is survived by her son, Kenny Kemp, and was a grandmother as well, according to her family’s statement.
Her death was mourned Monday by fellow “Bling Empire” cast member Kevin Kreider, who wrote on Instagram, “You never know when your last goodbye will be.”
“So unexpected and wished when I saw you last for lunch I would have taken a moment to smell the roses and had one last adventure with you,” Kreider wrote.
Netflix launched “Bling Empire” in 2021 and released the show’s third season last October. Shay, who had more than 500,000 Instagram followers, expressed gratitude for the streaming service in December in what was her final post on the social media platform.
“Wishing everyone happy holiday,” Shay wrote at the time. “My all your dreams come true. And a very special Thank you to all at the Netflix.”
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