Featured
Instagram influencer and model Deniece “Niece” Waidhofer has been found dead in her Houston home.
Niece suffered long-term mental health struggles and the 31-year-old was known for using her platform to spread awareness on advocacy in mental health.
She had 4.2 million followers on Instagram and rose to fame in 2015 after popularising the Roast Me trend on Reddit.
Niece Waidhofer also played Anna Rothschild in Shawn Welling’s 2014 thriller The Legend Of DarkHorse County, but what do we know about her family life and background – was she married?
Was Niece Waidhofer married? Influencer takes her own life age 31
No, Niece Waidhofer wasn’t married, nor did she have children. However, recent changes to her Instagram feed seem to show she had found the love of her life.
Last month, Waidhofer deleted almost everything from her various social media feeds – photos and videos – leaving only three posts behind on her Instagram.
One of them is captioned: “From our very first date, I knew this was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.” See the original post here.
Do we know anything about Niece Waidhofer’s relationships?
“There is nothing that could have prepared me for the elation I felt when he asked me to be his wife,” Niece wrote in the caption of one of her three remaining Instagram posts.
“My love, you are all I will ever want. I will love you with my entire heart until I take my last breath.”
The post is from 28 June 2015 – almost exactly seven years ago.
The UK’s Daily Mail newspaper refers to the person in the posts simply as “an unnamed man”, and notes “marriage plans never materialised”.
Niece Waidhofer and her boyfriend/fiancé apparently never married – she was reportedly single at the time she passed away.
Who is Mike Evans, Niece’s rumoured former boyfriend?
Numerous sites make reference to rumours that Niece Waidhofer used to be in a relationship with someone called Mike Evans.
However, there’s no evidence to support these rumours. Two of the sites linked above describe “Mike Evans” as a doctor based in Dallas, the other links to a Tampa Bay Bucs American football player.
Waidhofer’s family told TMZ Niece “took her own life after a long battle with mental health issues”.
“She was very open with her followers about her struggles, even wanting to help followers who also suffered.”
A non-profit organisation, Peace From Niece, will be established in her honour.
Who did she play in The Legend Of DarkHorse County and how can you watch it?
Shawn Welling’s 2014 thriller The Legend Of DarkHorse County features Niece Waidhofer as Anna Rochschild. Also in the cast are Michael Biehn (as Future Jon Ford), Lee Majors (Future Sheriff McElroy) and Jennifer Blanc-Biehn (Kat Sawyer).
It’s about a small town where “mysterious and supernatural occurrences threaten to tear” apart the equilibrium. It was filmed in Houston, Texas. Find the trailer on Vimeo here.
It’s not streaming on any of the big sites. However, Welling Films lists it as “coming soon” on Vimeo On Demand. Sign up for updates here.
Trying | Season 3 Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Fans react to tragic death of mental health influencer
Since her passing, swathes of fans and followers have paid tribute to Niece Waidhofer, whom people describe as “beautiful, charismatic and very kind”.
“The strong ones who offer to help and advise,” commented one of her followers on Twitter, “also need help and advice. Life is happening to everyone. Rest In Peace.”
The Focus would like to offer its sincere condolences to the family, friends and fans of Niece at this difficult time.
If you are affected by any issues raised in the article or would like someone to speak to, please call the Samaritans for free on 116 123. You can also email them at [email protected] or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch in the UK. In the US, please visit Samaritans USA for more information.
