29 March 2024 , 12:00
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A female bodybuilder, Instagram influencer and powerlifting champion has died aged just 34 - and lay dead in her bed undiscovered for six whole days.
Police are investigating the death of Brazilian influencer and powerlifting champion Rhayara Morais, 34, who was discovered lifeless in her bed at her flat. A worried friend is said to have found her body with police after being unable to contact her and raising the alarm. Her body is believed to have laid undiscovered for around six days before the horror find on Wednesday.
Rhayara, who had nearly 150,000 followers on Instagram and boasted of having half a million fans on Tiktok, won a regional powerlifting title after taking up the sport around two years ago. The strongwoman, a former women’s football player who had studied physical education as well as law, showed off her exercise routines and honed body online where she described herself as a digital creator and ‘Brasilia Powerlifting Champion.’
She lived in Aguas Claras in the South American country’s Federal District, home to its purpose-built capital Brasilia.
She also had her own website where she posted her impressive curriculum. Her sponsors included a nutrition firm and a company producing high-end exercise supplements.
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Rhayara was prolific on Instagram (@rhayara/Newsflash)
She was a champion powerlifter (@rhayara/Newsflash)No information has yet been made public by officials about a possible cause of death, although there have been no local reports so far pointing to it being crime-related with social media followers suggesting she died in her sleep from a sudden illness.
A neighbour at the block of apartments where Rhayara lived said in overnight tribute: “I met her every day here in the condo and I am shocked. A polite and extremely cheerful person.”
Another said: “I can’t believe it. I’d often bump into her in the lift and she was always very kind.”
One of her Instagram followers wrote: “I can’t believe this sad and sudden news. Rest in peace beautiful girl. God will receive you in Heaven.”
Others suggested Rhayara had died in her sleep after suffering a sudden illness, although there has not yet been any police confirmation.
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(@rhayara/Newsflash)Rhayara's friend, Raquel Santos, said: "I thank God for having had the honour and pleasure of calling you my friend. The loss hurts, but now you are in heaven. Know that you were very loved and will leave a legacy of love."
Instagram user 'profwesleysantos' said: "Man, how crazy is it to open Instagram here and discover your loss. We had grown apart in recent years, but I will cherish the stories we lived together. The people who are commenting here didn't know how smart, hard-working and funny you were. My condolences to the family."
And 'sergio.robersant' said: "Until now, I still can't believe this sad and sudden news. Rest in peace Linda. God welcome you to heaven."
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The results of the autopsy, which was expected to take place yesterday, have not been made public.
Last October a former bodybuilding champion was shot dead by two gunmen as he trained in a gym in the city of Botocatu 150 miles southeast of São Paulo. Brazilian Eustacio Batista Dias, 27, was executed after trying to escape his killers when they started firing at him as he chatted to another man between exercises. The horror moment he was killed was filmed on CCTV.
One unconfirmed local report at the time said the assassins may have been able to confirm their victim's whereabouts through photos and a video he posted as Instagram Stories shortly before being executed showing he was weight-training.
Earlier this month a bodybuilder who showed off his demanding fitness routines to more than 50,000 followers on Instagram was shot dead outside his home in Vila Matilde, one of the 96 districts in Brazilian city Sao Paulo. Muscled Denis Yoshio, who was dating a stunning model, was gunned down by two men who fled on a motorbike.
The 32-year-old’s brother put him into his car and tried him to rush him to hospital before being assisted by firefighters en route who helped transfer him to an ambulance. The gunshot victim is said to have gone into cardiac arrest after reaching hospital. One of the bullets that killed him struck his spine.