Fundraiser started following influencer Dominique Brown’s sudden death

Disney influencer Dominique Brown died last week after suffering a severe allergic reaction at an event in Los Angeles on Dec. 5.

Remembering influencer Dominique Brown

The 34-year-old influencer was the co-founder of BlackGirlDisney, an online community of Black creators within the larger Disney influencer community.

“As Disney fans in the earlier days of Instagram, we followed every Disney style, blogger, and merch pages we could find. The theme of the majority of the pages… melanin deficient.” Brown and her cofounder, Mia Von, explained on their website.

“Like Most things that lack representation, new platforms are created out of a necessity to see yourself. We wanted to create a space where we were not only represented, but CENTERED!”

In light of Brown’s untimely death, a GoFundMe has been started by her family to help with funeral expenses.

“Dominique was more than a sister, daughter, and aunt—she was a radiant light in the lives of everyone who knew her,” the fundraiser reads.

Between her own Instagram, @dominiquebrown, and the @blackgirldisney platform, Brown had over 40,000 followers to share her Disney adventures and fashion with.

Food allergies

A change.org petition started in the wake of her death, alleges that Brown was allergic to peanuts and that the venue was not equipped to respond to severe allergies.

The petition calls for legislation requiring EpiPens to be available at all food-serving establishments, staff training on recognizing and treating allergic reactions, and ingredient transparency.

Brown’s tragic death sheds light on the ongoing issue of food allergies, which about 33 million people in the United States suffer from, according to the nonprofit organization Food Allergy Research and Education.

NPR reports, 8.5% of Black adults report having at least one food allergy, making them the most likely demographic to have a food allergy. According to the National Library of Medicine, 1 in 3 people with food allergies report having an allergic reaction while dining out.

Fundraiser for influencer Dominique Brown

“She lived with passion, kindness, and an unwavering hope that inspired everyone she met. Dominique encouraged us all to embrace life’s joys, and her memory will continue to do so. Her warmth, compassion, and fierce love for her family and friends will forever remain in our hearts,” the fundraiser reads.

As the family comes together to celebrate Dominique’s life, they are asking for support to help cover funeral costs and any unexpected expenses during this time.

“Your contributions will allow us to honor her in the way she deserves and give our family the space to grieve without added financial stress.”

If you’re interested in donating, please visit the GoFundMe.