Ariana DeBose Details Heartbreak Over Her Mother's Death After A Three-Year Cancer Battle

Ariana DeBose, the celebrated star of West Side Story, is reeling from a tragic personal loss. Two days later, on August 17, DeBose's mother, 57, Gina DeBose, died following a brave fight with ovarian cancer for three years. Ariana took to Instagram to remember her mother's life and legacy, posting heartfelt notes about their special relationship.

"She was my favorite person, my biggest fan and toughest critic," Ariana wrote in her post. "My best friend. She was my date to every important moment in my professional and personal life and I wouldn't have it any other way." Her words offer an emotional glimpse into the extent of their relationship and the significant impact her mother had, not just on her personal life, but also on her journey to becoming a pop star. Ariana was brought up by single mother Gina DeBose, something Ariana herself pointed out in her tribute. "It had always been the two of us for as long as I can remember," she said, recalling the tight duo who worked arm in arm through life's difficulties.

Read More: Jimmy Kimmel Explains How Bread Saved Matt Damon Due To Choking At His Dinner Party

Ariana celebrated her mom's relentless drive to provide a better life, "She fought like hell to give me a good life, a good education, and every opportunity in the world. I wouldn't be where I am without her." The death of a parent is a universal experience, but Ariana's tribute vibrates with a particularly public poignancy. Renowned for her radiant on-stage and on-screen performances, she now opens up about her private grief, sharing a side of herself that her fans know little about. What I love about her post is not only that it's an ode to her mother's strength, but it's also a reminder to everyone of the way Gina shaped Ariana's path from childhood milestones to significant career moments.

Amidst the heartbreak, what Ariana says is beautiful, and it's about awe, thanks, and love that never end. They are a reminder that behind each name in an artist's history, there is often a silent, unwavering presence that makes success possible. For Ariana, her mom was someone special, whose memory she now holds in high esteem and cherishes. And while the West Side Story star navigates this highly emotional time, her fans and fellow artists are coming up with an incredible show of support and condolences, also sharing stories of their own mothers. Ariana DeBose's homage to Gina is at once a celebration of a life fully lived and a poignant memorial to the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter one that endures as a source of endless inspiration even in the darkest of times.