It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Anna Shay, a beloved matriarch of Bling Empire and mother, grandmother, and a captivating personality. She died suddenly from a stroke at the young age of 62, as confirmed by PEOPLE.
“Our family’s hearts are heavy with grief,” the statement from her family reads. “Anna lived life to the fullest, showing us how to relish the little things and take joy in them. Her presence in our lives will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.”
Anna gained prominence in Bling Empire season one in 2021, quickly becoming a fan-favorite and inciting curiosity among viewers who wondered where she got her wealth. Her friend Kane Lim revealed on the show that Anna was half-Japanese and half-Russian, and came from an extremely wealthy background. Anna later refuted the claim that her fortune came from arms-dealing, telling PEOPLE that “Kane thought he knew, but maybe he didn’t know and was just guessing.”
The show highlighted Anna’s quiet demeanor and gentle soul, revealing her philosophy to focus on meaningful aspects of life over “superficial bulls—”. Although Anna kept a low-profile, in December she posted on Instagram, wishing her followers a happy holiday season and giving special thanks to Netflix.
Anna is survived by her son Kenny Kemp and her grandchildren, whose identities are not publicly known. She will be greatly missed and forever remembered for the beautiful person she was.