Zhang Chun: Chinese fashion influencer found dead suddenly after ‘staying up too late’

A Chinese fashion influencer Zhang Chun has died suddenly at the age of 29 after suffering heart-related complications.

The social media star’s death was confirmed by her mother following a funeral held in Shanghai on Monday.

“It happened suddenly, it was a sudden death,” her mother said, revealing Zhang had an underlying heart condition and a long-standing habit of staying up late, which she suggested may have contributed to her passing.

Known online as Ni De Du Kou, Zhang reportedly fell ill in the early hours of January 1 and was rushed to hospital, but doctors were unable to save her.

Once dubbed the “Sneaker Goddess,” Zhang rose to fame in 2018 after sharing photos of carefully styled streetwear looks, pairing fashionable outfits with eye-catching trainers.

Her polished, clean-cut image as a university student helped her stand out in China’s fashion and streetwear scene, quickly attracting a loyal following of more than one million fans.

She later branched into entertainment, appearing at hip-hop events and expanding her personal brand — but her career took a dramatic downturn when her self-launched fashion label collapsed, reportedly leaving her in significant debt.

Zhang was said to have struggled with depression following her business failure.

Her public image suffered further in 2024 after she joined an adult content platform in an attempt to pay off her debts, a move that sparked backlash from fans and led to intense online abuse according to reports.

Last year, Zhang broke down during a livestream, revealing she had contracted syphilis and showing severe skin ulcers on her arm, saying the condition had taken a major toll on her health.

Tributes have since poured out across social media with fans expressing their heartbreak over the troubled influencer’s death.