Tragedy has hit the Nigerian movie industry as plus-sized actress, Monalisa Stephen (also known as Gabacci) has reportedly passed away
Lagos, Nigeria – The entertainment world was thrown into a state of grief and disbelief on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, following the shocking death of Nollywood actress, plus-size model, and outspoken influencer, Monalisa Ayobami Stephen. The 32-year-old star, known as much for her audacious candor as for her confidence in redefining body standards in Nollywood, reportedly succumbed to complications linked to internal bleeding and low blood sugar.
Her death, confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards, Seun Oloketuyi, in an Instagram post, has sparked waves of emotion, reactions, and fresh debates — reigniting memories of her controversial 2023 interview in which she made headlines for disclosing her boyfriend’s unusual sexual practices, including performing oral sex on her during menstruation.
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In his social media statement, Seun Oloketuyi wrote, “Brand influencer, Monalisa Ayobami Stephen is dead. She died yesterday in Lagos after losing the fight against low sugar and internal bleeding. Her immediate younger sister confirmed the death of this hardworking and beautiful soul.”
The post has since gone viral, garnering thousands of comments from fans, Nollywood colleagues, feminists, critics, and mental health advocates alike. While the official cause of death has been identified as complications arising from low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and internal bleeding, some are already calling for a more detailed autopsy report amid unverified rumors of possible mental health struggles, substance use, or suicide.
Monalisa Stephen was not your regular actress. She came into the limelight not just for her acting roles, but for her unapologetic advocacy for body positivity, confidence, and acceptance. As a plus-size woman in a notoriously sizeist entertainment industry, Monalisa broke barriers and confronted stigma.
She starred in several Nollywood films and series, though many of her fans followed her more closely for her content on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, where she frequently shared inspirational messages, intimate revelations, fashion content, and body confidence posts.
Monalisa called herself “The Empress of Self-Love,” and it wasn’t just a title for clout. She made it her mission to encourage women — especially plus-sized African women — to love their bodies, flaunt their curves, and resist societal pressures.
The late actress first courted major controversy in 2023 when she made a deeply personal and graphic revelation during an interview that trended nationwide. She stated that her then-boyfriend not only performed oral sex during her menstruation but did so as a consistent form of sexual bonding and foreplay.
In her words:
“My guy felt we shouldn’t hide anything from each other, so during my period he decided to give me head — sucked my period by sucking my socket point. After the first experience, I checked and found that it had no negative health implications, so we continued. We enjoy it. Some male friends and even women do it too. It’s not that abnormal.”
Her comments sent social media into a frenzy. Critics lambasted her for “oversharing,” calling her vulgar, unladylike, and desperate for attention. But others hailed her for speaking freely and breaking taboos around menstrual sex and sexuality.
Medical professionals chimed in with mixed views. While some emphasized that there were no proven serious health risks to such sexual behavior between consenting adults, others warned that poor hygiene, potential infections, and psychological discomfort could result.
Still, Monalisa remained unfazed. She doubled down on her statement and even went on Instagram Live to talk more about “being open in love,” reiterating that “people should stop acting like saints when they’re all freaky behind closed doors.”
Though she always wore a bold smile and exuded confidence, Monalisa’s later interviews and cryptic posts hinted at deeper emotional struggles. In one interview in 2024, she confessed to having battled depression.
“There were days I hated waking up. Days I felt everyone was laughing at me behind my back,” she said. “But I had to wear a smile, post nice photos, do brand shoots, and act happy even when I was breaking inside.”
In retrospect, some fans have begun to revisit those statements, asking whether her death could be linked to mental health challenges, especially given the tremendous social backlash she faced over her menstrual sex confession.
On Twitter/X, a fan wrote:
“Y’all mocked Monalisa, slut-shamed her for opening up about her sex life, bullied her over her body, now she’s gone and everybody is typing ‘Rest in Peace.’ Hypocrites.”
Her management has not confirmed any prior suicide attempts, nor have they commented on any related suspicions. But a source close to her, who pleaded anonymity, said that Monalisa had been hospitalized twice in 2024 for “health complications aggravated by stress and emotional exhaustion.”
As news of her death broke, tributes began pouring in. Fellow actress Anita Joseph posted a crying emoji and wrote, “So sad. Rest well, my sis. You were brave. Too brave.”
Uche Maduagwu, never one to shy away from controversial takes, posted:
“Why is it that Nigeria never protects women who speak their truth? This lady deserved kindness, not cruelty.”
Meanwhile, a mixed crowd on social media debated the morality of her previous statements, with some still attacking her and others calling for compassion and reform in how the media treats outspoken women.
A Facebook user commented:
“This should be a wake-up call. Social media is toxic. You people bullied her to her grave!”
Monalisa’s death cuts short what many believe was a promising career in both the creative and advocacy spaces. She was not only a model and actress but a public speaker, brand ambassador, and youth mentor. She often gave motivational talks at secondary schools and women’s forums, especially about body shaming and low self-esteem.
However, she remained a polarizing figure. While many applauded her audacity, others dismissed her as an attention-seeking provocateur.
In one of her last Instagram posts — a cryptic photo of a red rose with the caption, “Some flowers bloom alone before fading forever” — many now believe she may have subtly signaled distress.
Monalisa’s death once again exposes the fragile intersection between fame, vulnerability, and Nigeria’s cultural resistance to open conversations about sexuality, mental health, and women’s autonomy.
In a country where menstruation is still viewed as “unclean” and many women are raised to be ashamed of their bodies, Monalisa’s decision to speak publicly about her menstrual sex life was seen as an unforgivable sin. But should it have been?
A Lagos-based psychologist, Dr. Ugochi Nnadi, told IgbereTV:
“Monalisa’s story is one of shame culture and psychological violence. In a saner society, she would’ve been protected, not vilified. This country eats its women.”
She added that the public reaction to her story was a form of social lynching and urged media organizations to do better in framing controversial stories around women.
In a brief phone conversation with IgbereTV, Monalisa’s younger sister, who confirmed her death to Seun Oloketuyi, said:
“She was so strong. People think she was just loud and controversial, but they don’t know the pain she carried. She gave her all to everyone. She loved hard. She wanted to change how the world saw big women.”
Asked whether the family believed there were deeper causes of her death beyond the stated medical ones, the sister declined to comment, saying the family was “still processing everything.”
They also asked for privacy as burial arrangements are being finalized. It is expected that she will be buried in her hometown in Ogun State by the end of May 2025.
Monalisa Stephen’s life and death leave behind more than memories — they offer a mirror to Nigerian society.
How do we treat women who speak freely about their sexuality?
Why do we shame people more for being open than for being violent or exploitative?
Why do mental health challenges go undiagnosed, ignored, or mocked?
And what becomes of public figures who, in their quest to normalize the unconventional, become victims of social scorn?
Perhaps, Monalisa herself answered these questions best in one of her final interviews:
“They say I’m too much. Too loud. Too bold. Too open. But maybe that’s exactly what this world needs. A little too much of honesty. A little too much of truth.”
As tributes continue to flood in and discussions around her legacy intensify, one thing is certain: Monalisa Stephen was not ordinary. Love her or loathe her, she lived her truth — unfiltered, unashamed, and unforgettable.
She is survived by her parents, younger siblings, and a legacy that will continue to echo through Nigeria’s film and feminist circles for years to come.
