Teen influencer Zuza Beine passed away on the morning of Sept. 22 at the age of 14, following a decade-long battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. But her memory, and all she accomplished and gave to this world, will never be forgotten.
Beine became a content creator at just 13 years old, showing her audience both the good and bad days of her life. Just before her passing, she expressed her gratitude for the best things in her life.
“Being diagnosed with cancer has made me deeply grateful for the everyday things that many people often take for granted,” Beine wrote in an Instagram video on Sept. 22. “Here are some of the things I’m most grateful for: being able to taste the most delicious foods, being able to do different hairstyles, my relationships, my animals,” she shared.
Throughout her journey, Beine would begin her day, whether she was undergoing treatment, dealing with painful side effects, or spending quality time with friends or family, by sharing her plans with her followers. Offering a glimpse into her world, she often invited them to join her morning routine: “Hi guys, do my skincare with me,” she would say.
Beine was always a bright joy to see across your feed. To many, including her teachers, she was a bundle of smiles, creating videos using fun, viral sounds, like Taylor Swift’s voice while sharing her favorite autumn movies.
Through her content, Beine always kept it real. While she stayed positive throughout her 11-year cancer battle, she never hid the hard moments.
“My legs are in a lot of pain right now,” she shared in a difficult update two weeks before her passing. “Like such bad pain I can’t even explain it. I can’t walk without my mom’s assistance. We don’t really know where it’s coming from.”
“We were expecting that it’s from the leukemia pain, but my bone marrow biopsy went down a lot, which is really good,” she continued. “So it’s most likely not from leukemia. I’m constantly on pain medication now, which barely helps.”
Health updates were a regular part of Beine’s journey. On Sept. 14, she shared a glimpse of hope on Instagram: “GOOD NEWS: My marrow improved dramatically from 70–90% disease to 30–50% — treatment is working!” Even through the painful days, Beine always held onto hope for a better future.
During her many hospital visits and doctor appointments, she made sure to bring her followers along. In August 2025, while waiting for a procedure, Beine shared her Grey’s Anatomy episode and her Lego bouquet. Later, after the procedure, she wrote on screen, “I can only eat soft foods because they shoved a breathing tube down my throat during the procedure, imagine how my throat feels now.”
Throughout her life, one thing always stayed true, she remained a loyal Swiftie. When Taylor Swift announced her Life of a Showgirl album in August, Beine shared her excitement and favorite merch, writing on the screen, “Shout out to Taylor Swift. I love you! Me cuz Taylor announced a new album.”
She created a safe and welcoming platform for so many. After her passing, hundreds of Instagram stories and posts were made in her honor. Each of her videos created an honest and heartfelt look into what it’s like to be a child with cancer, spreading awareness and compassion through every moment she shared.
Beine’s story is one of strength, honesty, and unwavering hope. Through every challenge, she reminded the world to find beauty in the small things and to live with gratitude, no matter the circumstances. Though she is no longer here, the light she shared continues to shine through every person she touched, a reminder that even the smallest voices can leave the biggest impact.