Former MMA ring girl and fitness influencer Tania Souza found dead at home in Brazil
A glamorous personal trainer known for appearing as a ring girl in MMA events has been found dead in her home.
Tania Souza was found lifeless at her residence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 25, according to reports.
Friends said she had left Manaus months earlier to seek new opportunities in Rio de Janeiro while continuing to work as a personal trainer and creator of fitness content.
They also said she had participated in several editions of the MMA event Mr Cage, where she became known for her stage presence as a ring girl.
A message shared by the team behind the Mr Cage events said: “She was the first Ring Girl of our events. We believed in her and she believed in our work. Her light will never be extinguished. Our eternal ring girl.”
Images available online show her behind the scenes of MMA events in the Amazon region, where she was presented as the “ring girl of Amazonia”.
Reports said she tried to expand her fitness career after moving to Rio de Janeiro, maintaining active social media profiles and seeking new work.
Friends said she was going through a difficult period and had reported symptoms of depression. The cause of death has not yet been released.
Story: NewsX