A 39-year-old Russian influencer, residing and operating in Southeast Asia, garnered attention on platforms like Instagram and TikTok for her consistent updates regarding an unconventional diet centered around consuming raw tropical fruits. She asserted that over a span of six years, she refrained from consuming water and instead relied solely on fruit and vegetable juices for her hydration.
A Russian social media influencer, Zhanna Samsonova, known for promoting a vegan diet centered around raw tropical fruit, has passed away due to complications including malnutrition, exhaustion, and infections. Samsonova, 39, who resided and operated in Southeast Asia, regularly shared her extreme dietary regimen on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Her diet notably involved abstaining from water for six years, relying on fruit and vegetable juices for hydration.
Frequently, she expressed a sense of accomplishment in the disbelief her nearing 40th birthday often evoked from others.
“I enjoy consuming uncomplicated meals, even though I possess significant expertise as a raw food chef,” she shared on her social media platform. “My passion lies in crafting unique recipes and motivating individuals to adopt a more nutritious diet.”
She proudly mentioned her preference for meals devoid of salt, oil, or protein, and emphasized her consistent immunity to the common cold.
Her extreme dietary regimen led to her gradual decline, ultimately resulting in her passing on July 21 in Malaysia. Although her mother attributed her death to a “cholera-like infection,” friends believe she succumbed to malnutrition, evident in her emaciated state. Described as having a childlike cheerfulness, she progressively restricted her diet to fruits and juices, foregoing essential protein sources like nuts, which caused her appearance to deteriorate in online photos.
Described as a “walking skeleton” by a Russian news outlet, the woman spent 17 years traveling in Asia and faced growing health concerns from friends. During a stay in Sri Lanka, she ignored advice to seek medical help, later alarming a friend with her deteriorating condition in Phuket. Hailing from Zelenodolsk, Russia, she adopted extreme diets including dry fasting, claiming it aided her in overcoming Covid-19 contracted during a 2021 trip. Despite unconventional treatment, she believed her approach contributed to her recovery.
In a recent blog post, she recounted a challenging journey home where she could only find pineapple juice to drink, and she felt isolated due to being perceived as “different” by locals she encountered. On Instagram, she likened her experiences to those of Jesus, unrecognized for his wisdom and met with adversity. Following her passing, reactions on social media were divided, with some offering sympathy and admiration, while others criticized her extreme diet as an eating disorder for which she was responsible. Her family is currently working to repatriate her body, facing potential delays due to bureaucratic processes.