Fitness influencer and mum Raechelle Chase dies: 'Inspired millions'

New Zealand fitness influencer and mum-of-five Raechelle Chase died earlier this month, her daughter has confirmed.

Raechelle had 1.4 million followers on Facebook and was a former competitive bodybuilder who was the first Kiwi woman to take part in the Figure Olympia bodybuilding event in 2011 in Las Vegas.

More recently, she worked as an influencer and fitness model. Last month, she shared photos for an Oxygen Magazine cover that was taken in the US.

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Raechelle's eldest daughter, Anna Chase, confirmed the heartbreaking news, saying her mother sacrificed to give her children the best life possible.

"She was supportive, kind-hearted and always had the best advice for us," she said, according to Stuff. "She was a wildly driven woman with ambition and has inspired millions of people around the world.

"I miss her immensely and that love won’t ever fade."

The publication also reports that Raechelle's friend Keith O'Connell shared that the influencer's death was "sudden and unexpected" and that she was one of the "kindest souls" he knew.

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"Not going to lie, very few things in my life hit me as hard as your passing," he said. "You had so much left to live. So much love to give.

"You were, still are, and always will be one of the kindest beautiful souls I will ever have experienced."

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