A US Army soldier and fitness influencer has died by suicide just days after her daughter's 12th birthday.
On January 20, friends of 34-year-old Staff Sergeant Michelle Young shared the news that she had taken her own life. Days earlier, Young shared a post celebrating her daughter Gracie's birthday with her audience of over 100,000 followers.
“Happy birthday to the sweetest girl I’ve ever known,” Young wrote. “She is a force to be reckoned with, she is funny, ambitious, kind, compassionate, intelligent, hardworking, hilarious and selfless.”
“I cried the whole time I did it. I love you forever, little one. “The best thing about my life is being your mom.”
Her death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from friends online and on her social media pages.
“Michelle was always so nice to me. “We often talked about our daughters and how similar they are,” friend Brianna Hasan wrote. “I know she loved Gracie more than anything. I can't believe this happened.'
Michelle Young, 34, a US Army soldier and influencer, died by suicide just days after her daughter's 12th birthday
Young was a staff sergeant who served two tours in Afghanistan. She joined the army at 17 and returned home at 24, shortly after her daughter's second birthday
Friends remembered Young as a loving single mother to 12-year-old Gracie
The Prescott, Arizona resident joined the Army at age 17. Seven years later, shortly after her daughter's second birthday, she returned from her first deployment.
“I was in the military before I became a mother,” Young wrote on Instagram. “I volunteered for this life, she didn't.” “She has had to be separated from her only parent during multiple deployments, TDYs and training, but never complains.”
In October, Young posted a series of photos in which she and Gracie — both avid Chiefs fans — dressed up as Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.
The 34-year-old completed two deployments to Afghanistan, most recently in 2021. In the same year she extended her military contract to 20 years. She was 16 years old in September.
In her free time, Young volunteered as a crisis and trauma responder while also volunteering at a local homeless shelter for women and children. In a post, she explained that her passion for ministry was ignited by her own brother's suicide.
“That day changed my life forever, but it also sparked a passion for helping others that I don't think I would have had had I not experienced the pain of losing him,” Young explained.
Military values ran deep in her family. The soldier often spoke of her grandfather, a Navy veteran who served in World War II.
“Growing up, the thought of joining the military never crossed my mind,” the 34-year-old wrote, adding that the only person she knew who was serving at the time of her enlistment was her grandfather. “I didn’t know any women who were in the military.”
The soldier boasted over 100,000 Instagram followers, where she often shared photos from her vacations abroad
The 34-year-old completed two deployments to Afghanistan, most recently in 2021. In the same year she extended her military contract to 20 years. She was 16 years old in September
In her free time, Young volunteered at a local homeless shelter and volunteered as a crisis and trauma responder
The 34-year-old has also modeled for Curves N Combatboots, a venerable activewear brand
The mother of one lost her own brother to suicide, awakening in her a passion to help others
Sarah Maine, COO of storied activewear brand Curves N Combatboots, spread the news of Young's death through a GoFundMe campaign.
“Our good friend and athlete Michelle was taken from us by suicide,” she wrote.
“Michelle was a beautiful soul, an amazing friend, a single mother, a soldier and is proof that you never know what someone is going through or what demons they are battling.”
Young's daughter, Maine explained, “was her whole world,” and the campaign was organized to help Gracie “with anything she might need.” “We know Michelle would appreciate it if we all looked after her now.”
It is unclear how and where Young took her life.
Friends left comments commemorating Young's life as part of the campaign.
“Michelle was an angel when I needed him, and I could never repay her for her kindness in this mortal world.” “So I will do it for her daughter,” wrote Nicole Jimerson.
On Facebook, Tatiana Mendes described Young, who was her maid of honor, as her “best friend.”
“I don’t know how I will ever survive without your light in my life,” Mendes wrote. “You touched so many of our lives. The thought of you not being there is unimaginable.”
She added, “I promise you that I will be there for Gracie forever and ever. 'Rest in peace my sweet angel.'
Young often spoke of her grandfather, a World War II veteran who served in the Navy, and wrote in one post that he was the only person she knew who was serving at the time of her enlistment
In a GoFundMe campaign, a friend noted that Young's daughter was “her whole world.”
She was remembered as “a beautiful soul, an amazing friend, a single mother, a soldier” and as “proof that you never know what someone is going through or what demons they are battling.”
A friend described Young as “an angel when I needed him” and expressed regret that she “could never repay her kindness in this mortal world.”
Young's last Instagram post was dedicated to her daughter on her birthday. “The best part of my life is being your mom,” she wrote
“I wish you had called your old friend,” one friend wrote, sharing a photo of the duo together. “I hope you found the peace you were looking for.”
Vet Radio Syndicate, a veterans-focused media station, remembered Young as “a dear friend and a wonderful soul.”
Vet Radio Syndicate, a veterans-focused media station, remembered Young as “a dear friend and a wonderful soul.”
“We have sponsored her in some of her fitness competitions as well as her appearances and shows about recruiting for the Army and National Guard,” a social media post said.
“Yesterday she took her own life and the demons won every battle she faced… No one knows what drives people over the edge, and sometimes those demons just won't let go.”
“Greetings with the hand, young lady, we will miss you.”
Tyr Symank, a fellow soldier and longtime friend of Young, left his own message reflecting on her life.
“I wish you had called an old friend,” he wrote, sharing a photo of the duo together. “I hope you found the peace you were looking for.”
Symank re-shared an illustration of Young with angel wings hugging her daughter on Instagram.
He captioned the post, “At her core, beyond the mental health issues, the personal dramas, the social media… this is what I knew about Michelle.”