BBC Three star Jasmine Burkitt who appeared in dwarfism reality show Small Teen Bigger World has died aged 28, heartbroken fiance reveals
- Former teenage reality star Jasmine Burkitt has died at 28, her fiancé announced
- Burkitt shot to fame in 2010 in BBC Three documentary Small Teen Bigger World
- Both she and her mother had dwarfism and she was determined to live normally
- Devastated fiancé Lewis described her as ‘strongest, funniest, kindest’ person
A former teenage reality star who shared her experiences growing up with dwarfism with millions of viewers has tragically died at the age of 28.
Jasmine ‘Jazz’ Burkitt shot to fame 12 years ago in BBC Three’s four-part documentary Small Teen Bigger World.
At 3’11 tall, Burkitt was determined to show she was just like any other teenager and won plaudits for her frankness as she shared details of her day-to-day life.
Her devastated fiancé Lewis Burke announced her death on social media, The Sun reports.
Mr Burke wrote: ‘She is the most incredible human that ever walked this planet, she is the strongest, funniest, most kindest and purely decent person I’ve ever known.
‘I am truly devastated. She changed my life forever and I’ll never be the same.’
Jasmine ‘Jazz’ Burkitt (right), 28, was described as ‘the strongest, funniest, most kindest and purely decent person I’ve ever known,’ by her fiancé Lewis Burke
In an Instagram post in January, Burkitt told her 3,500 followers that she had been hospitalised for her physical and then mental health but was looking forward to rejoining Lewis and their dog.
Jasmine ‘Jazz’ Burkitt pictured during her time on Small Teen, Bigger World in 2010. She won plaudits for her openness and determination to live a normal life
Small Teen, Bigger World aired in July 2010 and followed Burkitt’s life over 12 months, capturing her 16th birthday, a trip to New York and her efforts to track down her birth father.
She also described her experiences of bullying at school and being injured after a boy threw her in the air.
Burkitt appeared in the show while living in Colwyn Bay, north Wales, as a registered carer for her 3’7 mother Bev, who suffered lung and breathing problems and died in 2014.
Both suffered from an undiagnosed form of dwarfism for which doctors were unable to find a cause.
Last year, Burkitt and her partner were living in a tent in Welsh woodland after they were unable to secure a council property.
They described their experiences camping in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, with their dog Loki, on social media.
Burkitt, a talented photographer, said their camping life was ‘magical’.
Both Burkitt (pictured) and her mother Bev suffered from an undiagnosed form of dwarfism of which doctors were unable to find a cause
She wrote: ‘I think tent life has saved us and made us. Of course there are downsides as I am a bit more vulnerable with my health history.’
‘Some of the days over the summer living next to a river are some of the happiest I’ve ever spent. I like being away from people quite a lot and just being amongst nature.’
In an Instagram post in January, Burkitt told her 3,500 followers that she had been hospitalised for her physical and later mental health but was looking forward to rejoining Lewis and their dog.
The couple had recently acquired a caravan and planned to transform it into a home.
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