Mystery after 'There's something about Miriam' star found dead at home aged 38
Transgender reality TV star Miriam Rivera has reportedly died aged 38.
The model, who was the star of controversial 2004 show There’s something about Miriam died earlier this year, according to a friend’s Facebook post.
“The news about you been taken away from this world far too early and in this way broke my heart and left me in shock and tears,” Jeanett Ørtoft wrote in February.
She shared a series of photos of herself alongside Miriam as well as pictures of her in front of Sydney Harbour Bridge and images of her funeral.
Rivera also briefly appeared on the Australian version of Big Brother.
“You made a huge different for me and so many other people around this planet, that you made significantly more colourful. Your life was too short, but you sure made it remarkable,” Ørtoft continued.
The circumstances surrounding her death are unclear. While there are reports she took her own life, her boyfriend told the Daily Mail that he believes her death is suspicious.
Daniel Cuervo recalled how on February 5 she called him to say she was feeling ill and had been coughing up blood. He instructed her to go the hospital.
“She called me again before leaving the hospital at 12pm and that was the last time we spoke,” he said.
He said her body was found at her home in Hermosillo, Mexico hours later.
When enquiring if her body could be flown to New York to where he was, he said he was informed that wasn’t possible as she had already been cremated, ruling out an autopsy.
Rivera shot to fame following There’s something about Miriam – a show where men competed for her love, unaware that she was transgender.
The show was later broadcast in Australia on Channel 10 and resulted in a brief appearance on Big Brother.
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