Anna Shay, heiress, philanthropist and breakout star of Netflix’s reality series “Bling Empire,” has died aged 62.
Shay died of a stroke, according to a family statement provided to the Associated Press on Monday. It was not immediately clear when she died.
“We are deeply saddened to announce that Anna Shay, our loving mother and grandmother, our most charismatic star and ray of sunshine, has passed away,” the family said. “Anna taught us many life lessons about how not to take life too seriously and enjoy the finer things. Her impact on our lives will forever be remembered but never will. forgotten.”
Shay, a socialite in Los Angeles, amassed a fortune after she and her brother sold their father’s company, Pacific Architects and Engineers, after his death.
She told OprahMag.com in a 2021 interview that she didn’t know what she would do when she joined the cast of “Bling Empire,” which chronicles the lives of extremely wealthy Angelenos of Asian descent. .
Initially, Shay thought that her friend and executive producer of the series, Jeff Jenkins, wanted her to work behind the scenes.
“The next thing I knew I was in front of the camera. I’m actually pretty shy so it’s hard. I’ve never thought of doing this, especially at my age,” she said.
The film has been compared to the blockbuster “Crazy Rich Asians”. The series premiered in 2021 and was recently canceled after three seasons.
Shay, a fan-favorite character on the show, is a fixture in Los Angeles high society. She is the only daughter of Edward Shay, the American billionaire, defense company founder and government service contractor, and Ai-San, his half-Russian, half-Japanese wife.
Shay said in an interview with Oprah that her mother once told her, “You were born into a crystal ball with a silver spoon.”‘
The reality star was born and raised in Japan. According to BuzzFeed News, her only son, Kenny Kemp, has also gained a bit of attention for appearing briefly on the series and amassing a huge collection of delicious bongs.
