Mia Amber Davis Dead: Plus-Size Model, Advocate & 'Road Trip' Actress Passes Away

Plus-size model Mia Amber Davis has passed away at age 36. No cause of death has been given. According to TMZ.com, Davis had knee surgery to treat an old college basketball injury in L.A. the day before she died:

Hours later -- [her husband] Mike [Yard] says he got a phone call from Mia's cousin informing him that she was taking Mia to the hospital because Mia had been suffering from a bout of dizziness.

Soon after, Mike says the unthinkable happened -- he got another phone call informing him his wife had passed away.

The beauty was best-known for her work with Ashley Stewart, being the face of Jill Scott's Butterfly Bra, a cameo in the movie "Road Trip," and serving as Creative Editor-at-Large for Plus Model Magazine.

Editor Madeline Jones wrote in a blog post on Wednesday:

Mia was a super model and industry leader because it was her love for the women she represented that kept pushing her when the industry itself did not embrace her. Anyone else would have given up, but Mia remained steadfast in her career, knowing that she was not just doing it for her own benefit, but for women of all ages. Never one to put anyone down, Mia was about lifting up people and connecting them with others to help them on their journey and never asking for anything in return.

In a statement for The Huffington Post, Jones said: "Davis was a wonderful wife, caring daughter and loyal friend who will be missed dearly. The PLUS Model Magazine family is deeply saddened by the loss of our sister and want to thank our readers for their support and prayers. Our June issue will feature Mia on the cover as a very special tribute to our angel."

Davis appeared on CNN back in 2009 to discuss obesity in America. She told Campbell Brown and MeMe Roth, "Sizeism is the last acceptable prejudice....We're targets, but yet we're invisible everywhere else. The media doesn't showcase overweight people, overweight women are not seen in Hollywood. It's like, why are we being targets but we're invisible everywhere else?"

She added, "If you are gay, you can 'play' straight. If you are a certain religion, you can 'play' another religion. You can't hide the fact that you're overweight and nor do we want to. I'm proud of the way I look, I'm proud of my body. I'm proud of all of my friends and the hard work that we do to maintain our curves."

WATCH Mia on CNN:

WATCH her in "Road Trip":

(Via the Village Voice, PopEater)

Comments

[ThinkinPerson]

01:53 PM on 06/04/2011

Gee, we know a high percentage of health care costs are the result of greedy insurance companies, can we do something about that?

[kvolovesart]

08:59 AM on 05/16/2011

Pretty girl...sad...

[GirlInNYC]

05:41 AM on 05/15/2011

Sorry, but her position on CNN was totally the reason why so many people are obese. She was personalizing the statements instead of listening. The lady against obesity made very good points. And actually fat people are represented on TV, especially if black and female, as that's the type America finds most palatable (ergo Hattie McDaniel). If not that, it's Vanessa Williams types (ergo Dorothy Dandridge). In "Road Trip," whites made her the butt of the joke by putting her with that skinny white guy, a polar opposite. May she rest in peace. Hopefully people will be inspired by Jennifer Hudson though, not the likes of Gabby and this young lady who embrace obesity and see nothing wrong with it.

[luckybear]

12:15 PM on 06/03/2011

Finally someone saying something that makes sense. I agree, well put.

[benelson]

06:29 PM on 05/14/2011

For me......The world just got darker and colder. Au Revior Amber Mon Amour.

[vass367]

09:53 PM on 05/13/2011

R.I.P.

[Valerie Howard]

08:34 PM on 05/13/2011

Rest in Perfect Peace, you American Beauty!

[luvbigrocks]

09:02 AM on 05/13/2011

MeMe Roth was SO rude in this interview on CNN w/Mia Davis. Roth approaches being overweight like a religious evangelist. I guess everyone has their mission in life. Roth's is obviously a socialist who wants to legislate what we eat, when we exercise. On the other hand, Mia Davis showed manners and grace during this interview. She was a beautiful woman, curves and all.

[dovelove]

10:57 PM on 05/12/2011

What a beautiful lady. So sad.

[Carroll27]

09:41 PM on 05/12/2011

RIP. She was big, but I thought she was quite lovely.

[RedBirdy]

08:16 PM on 05/12/2011

May she rest in peace. Beautiful girl. And as my dad would say ''built like a brick house" And that's a compliment! I always admired her for being able to be comfortable in her own skin.

[Paul Rodgers]

07:21 PM on 05/12/2011

I have alway respected Ms. Davis for her valiant advocacy for those like me who wrestle with the obesity issue. She grabbed it by the throat and told it like it is. I pray for her family and may she rest in peace. And like Mia said, "you can have your opinion, but you are insulting!" I like that.

[shutterbabe]

04:11 PM on 05/12/2011

Oh, you beautiful girl. You shall be deeply missed.

[Sandra Stipp]

03:18 PM on 05/12/2011

An absolutely beautiful woman. Knee surgery is very dangerous......people think it's a piece of cake. Not so. Infections, blood clots, etc. People have knee surgery then are release from the hospital a few hours later.....way too soon. The Medical Insurance industry is horrible. Their only concern is money and not the patient.
RIP Ms. Davis. God bless you and your family.

[1jadednewyorker]

01:06 PM on 05/13/2011

the mortality rate for knee surgery from a menesectomy/PCL:ACL reconstruction to TKR is very very low.

[valgaavmiko]

12:47 AM on 06/04/2011

My grandmother died from it

[NYJedi]

03:08 PM on 05/12/2011

Always sad when a life is cut this short. RIP and condolences to her family and friends.

[ICD2U]

02:28 PM on 05/12/2011

Rest in Peace my dear. Sleep well. You will be dearly missed.