New Zealand TikTok star Dominique McShain dies at age 21 after being diagnosed with incurable colon cancer

New Zealand TikTok star Dominique McShain has died at age 21, following her battle with incurable colon cancer, US People magazine has confirmed.

The Christchurch woman was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in April 2024 and documented her heath battle on social media.

Just days ago, McShain said she was nearing the end of her life. Her liver was failing rapidly to the point of jaundice and her cancer was “progressing quickly”.

“My life may be short, but I genuinely think I’ve squeezed every bit out of it,” McShain wrote on Instagram.

“I won the lottery with a family that loves me unconditionally, friends who would 10,000 per cent donate a liver to me or do anything they could (and probably argue over who gets to do it).

“Recently, I’ve been picturing heaven often — a place where l’ll finally be free from the pain that’s been with me for so long.

“I imagine myself without the constant suffering, no longer needing medication just to survive the day. I’ll be able to run, to breathe, to feel whole.

“Though it will hurt to leave you all behind, please know that I will finally be out of pain, and I will be at peace.”

McShain had been studying a psychology degree which was derailed by the diagnosis. In 2024, she said she was only expected to live between one and five years.

She was just 20 at the time.

McShain explained she wanted to leave a lasting legacy for others.

“I know that cancer is getting a lot more common in the colon for younger people, so I really wanted to eventually share my symptoms and raise awareness,” McShain wrote.

In the past year, McShain married her partner Sean Suson before honeymooning in Thailand.

She said the pair had to rush their love story as she didn’t have the privilege of time.

“The privilege of getting to grow old was taken from me, like so many life experiences. But one thing I could do which was normal in life was get engaged and get married,” she wrote.