Mum of vegan influencer who died after ‘extreme’ fruit diet said daughter ‘did not listen’

The mum of a vegan influencer thought to have died of ‘starvation and exhaustion’ said she had tried to warn her daughter.

Vera Samsonova spoke out about her daughter Zhanna – known as Zhanna D’Art on social media – who died after following a heavily restrictive diet which included only fruit, sunflower seeds and juice.

The 63-year-old told Russian media: ‘She is already read, she is no more. Please stop writing bad things, it hurts me a lot. She chose this path. I fought for many years [but] she did not listen to her mother.’

Zhanna, who was originally from Kazan in Russia, had followed a raw plant-based diet for 10 years, but apparently showed severe signs of an eating disorder leading up to her death.

She died in Malaysia during a tour of south-eastern Asia.

The 39-year-old had became so weak she was reportedly bed-bound and it would take her ‘several minutes’ to walk up just one step on a staircase. 

One friend said she urged Zhanna to seek medical help.

Olga Chernyaeva told Russian newspaper Novye Izvestia: ‘I watched her journey to death for seven years. About five months ago, I met Zhanna in Sri Lanka and she had a haggard look. 

‘Her legs were swollen… It was amazing that she was still moving – I think she did it through pain.

‘I tried to talk to her, to convince her to seek help from doctors, to take tests. I showed her her body in the mirror and in photographs of past years.

‘But Zhanna’s character was not simple, it was impossible to convince her on certain issues.’ 

Zhanna’s cause of death has not yet been confirmed while her family attempt to get her body moved back to Russia.

Her mum said she died of a ‘cholera-like infection’ just hours before she was due to fly home on July 21.

After her death, one follower claimed Zhanna ate ‘only durian and jackfruit for seven years’.

In a chilling final Instagram post days before her death, Zhanna wrote: ‘Life is meaningless but worth living provided you recognise it’s meaningless.’

She had previously said: ‘I eat simple food, although I have a lot of experience as a raw food chef. I love creating my own recipes and inspiring people to eat healthier.

‘For the last four years, my diet has been only fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, fruit smoothies and juices.

‘I only got to this level after five years on a completely raw vegan diet.

‘I see my body and mind transform every day. I love my new me, and never move on to the habits that I used to use.’

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