Actress and model Monalisa Stephen has been laid to rest at Atan Cemetery in Yaba, Lagos State.
Clips from the funeral showed an emotional scene as friends and family members gathered around her white coffin to say their final goodbyes.
Many were seen crying openly, while others struggled to hold back tears. Prayers were offered at the graveside, where a tombstone bearing her full name, “Monalisa Ayobami Stephen,” had been prepared.
The burial followed the announcement made last week by media personality Seun Oloketuyi, who posted a photo of the late actress on Instagram with the caption, “Monalisa Stephen will be buried Thursday at Atan cemetery according to family sources. The beautiful hardworking woman who died during the week after a brief illness.”
Monalisa was confirmed dead on May 13. Her death shocked many who had followed her social media presence, where she was known as a fierce advocate for self-love and body positivity.
In a 2022 interview, Monalisa revealed she had been battling diabetes since the age of 10. She also disclosed she was living with tinnitus and spoke candidly about facing brutal online trolling and betrayals from people she trusted.
That same year, she alarmed fans after posting a message on Instagram hinting at suicidal thoughts, “These moments before my departure, I feel more clarity than I have ever felt. Finally, I will be free. I will be free from the voices, from the pains, and from you.”
Her management later clarified that the note was written during a “down moment” and reassured fans that she was receiving professional support.
