Additional Coverage:
- TikTok star Shirley Raines, known for bringing meals and respect to people on Skid Row, dies at 58 (nbcnews.com)
Los Angeles mourns the loss of Shirley Raines, affectionately known as “Ms. Shirley,” a beloved social media personality and the compassionate founder of the nonprofit organization Beauty 2 The Streetz, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 58. Her organization confirmed her death, though the cause has not yet been released.
Ms. Shirley touched the lives of millions, from her more than 5 million TikTok followers to the countless individuals experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles’ Skid Row and other communities across California and Nevada. She was a beacon of hope, providing not just food and hygiene supplies, but also dignity and beauty treatments to those often overlooked.
Beauty 2 The Streetz lauded Raines’ “immeasurable impact,” stating, “Through her tireless advocacy, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment, she used her powerful media platform to amplify the voices of those in need and to bring dignity, resources, and hope to some of the most underserved populations.”
Raines’ journey of giving was deeply personal, stemming from the profound grief of losing a son as a toddler. This heartbreak, she explained in 2021 when she was named CNN’s Hero of the Year, left her a “very broken woman.” Yet, she found purpose in her pain, famously stating during the CNN award ceremony, “It’s important you know that broken people are still very much useful.”
She channeled her maternal love into serving the homeless community, saying, “I would rather have him back than anything in the world, but I am a mother without a son, and there are a lot of people in the street that are without a mother. And I feel like it’s a fair exchange – I’m here for them.”
Beginning her work in 2017, Raines was known for her vibrant spirit and respectful interactions. Just days before her passing, she posted a video of herself enthusiastically distributing lunches, greeting individuals as “King” or “Queen.” In a heartwarming clip from two weeks prior, she was seen giving her own shoes to a barefoot child waiting for a meal, protecting the girl’s feet from the cold asphalt.
California’s homelessness crisis is particularly stark in downtown Los Angeles, with Skid Row bearing witness to hundreds living in makeshift shelters. A 2025 survey estimated approximately 72,000 people were homeless across Los Angeles County on any given night.
Crushow Herring, art director of the Sidewalk Project, which uses art and peer empowerment to support the homeless, described Raines as both sentimental and fiercely protective. “I’ve been getting calls all morning from people, not just who live in Skid Row but Angelenos who are shocked” by her death, Herring said. “What most people need is just feeling dignity about themselves, because if they look better, they feel better.”
Raines often empowered those she served by offering them positions within her organization, providing a path to responsibility and a sense of purpose. “By the time a year or two goes by, they’re part of the organization – they have responsibility, they have something to look forward to,” Herring noted.
Melissa Acedera, founder of Polo’s Pantry, recalled Raines’ dedication, including remembering birthdays and making special efforts to reach out to transgender and queer individuals on the outskirts of Skid Row. “It’s hard not to think of Shirley when I’m there,” Acedera shared.
In 2025, Raines was honored with the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Social Media Personality, and her passing has prompted an outpouring of grief and tributes from fellow creators. Alexis Nikole Nelson, known as “blackforager,” poignantly wrote, “Ms. Shirley was truly the best of us, love incarnate.”
Shirley Raines leaves behind a powerful legacy of compassion, advocacy, and unwavering dedication to humanity. Her spirit will undoubtedly continue to inspire countless others to make a difference in their communities.