Anika Rashaun, who appeared on reality television programmes including The Challenge and The Real World, has died from breast cancer at the age of 34.
The television star-turned-dating coach died on 1 October, after being diagnosed with cancer last summer, friends said.
Cyndi Rich, who described herself as one of Rashaun’s closest friends, wrote on Facebook: “Anika shined so bright. Being close to that light as one of her closest friends was a true blessing. She is a vibrant soul. I’ll love her and treasure the 16 years of memories forever.”
Another friend, Tiara Ramos, paid tribute in a Substack post, writing: “Anika Rashaun Walker Rehn was part of my life longer than she wasn’t. She was my mirror: the good, the bad, the ugly, the really ugly. She wasn’t just my friend. She was my other half. If you knew me, you knew her.”
Ramos also said Rashaun’s mother had previously had breast cancer, but that Rashaun had not been identified as being at high risk or advised by doctors to prioritise mammograms.
“That was one of the many failures she experienced within the medical system during her time battling cancer,” Ramos wrote.
Rashaun appeared on the 2016-17 season of The Real World: Bad Blood and later featured on The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions in 2017.
