Social media star Shirley Raines dies after years helping homeless in LA

Known as “Ms Shirley”, she used TikTok to bring food, dignity and hope to Skid Row and beyond

Social media star Shirley Raines dies after years helping homeless in LA

TL;DR

  • Shirley Raines, known as "Ms Shirley" on social media, has died at the age of 58.
  • She founded Beauty 2 The Streetz, an organization that provided food, beauty treatments, and hygiene supplies to homeless communities.
  • Raines had over 5 million followers on TikTok and was recognized for her compassionate advocacy.
  • Her motivation to help the homeless stemmed from the grief of losing her son.
  • She worked with homeless communities starting in 2017, treating individuals with respect and offering them opportunities within her organization.
  • Homelessness is a significant issue in Los Angeles, with tens of thousands experiencing it countywide.
  • Raines was honored with awards such as CNN's hero of the year and the NAACP Image award for outstanding social media personality.