Influencer Mary Magdalene dies at 33 after falling from a high-rise apartment in Thailand

12 December 2025

Denise Ivonne Jarvis Gongora, the Mexican-Canadian social media personality known widely as Mary Magdalene, has died at the age of 33 after falling from the ninth floor of a high-rise apartment building in Patong, a beach town on Phuket Island, Thailand, on December 9, 2025. Local police were called to the scene after building staff discovered her body in the parking area at about 1:50 p.m., and later confirmed her identity with the help of family members. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of her fall, but as of yet there has been no official ruling on whether it was accidental or intentional.

Gongora first rose to prominence online for her striking appearance, extensive body art and dramatic cosmetic procedures, as documented across her multiple Instagram accounts, where she amassed a following of more than 400,000 fans. Her journey into the public eye was marked by nose jobs, buccal fat removal, brow lifts, butt and breast implants, veneers and full-body tattoos. Beyond her look, she shared elaborate psychedelic paintings and content on subscription platform OnlyFans that helped deepen her connection with followers around the world.

The day before her death she shared a haunting series of images on social media that captured the last scene from the film The Truman Show, including the character’s famous words, “And in case I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening and good night,” alongside a blurry childhood photo of herself. That post circulated widely after her death, becoming a focal point for conversation as fans and observers reflected on the poignant sentiment she seemed to be expressing.

At the scene of her fall, authorities found a pair of flip-flops believed to belong to Gongora on the ninth floor, and witnesses said she had been scheduled to check out of the apartment building on December 10, the day after the incident. The precise timeline of events leading up to her fall remains unclear, and investigators are working to piece together what happened in the hours before her body was found.

Friends, family and followers reacted with shock and sorrow as news of her passing spread on social media. Her brother, Ivan, shared a series of photos and videos of the two together over the years, writing heartfelt tributes that expressed deep love and regret for the loss. “You are so funny and so creative way more than I’ll ever be,” he wrote in one post, continuing in another, “I just want to hang out with you one more time and tell you that I love you so much. You mean the world to me.”

Mary Magdalene’s online presence was built on bold transformation and fearless self-expression. Her followers admired her for the way she embraced a unique aesthetic and refused to conform to conventional standards of beauty. Her tattoo-covered body and dramatic cosmetic work were not merely surface-level statements but part of a broader artistic identity that she cultivated and shared with the world.

While her outward persona was flamboyant and provocative, many of her fans noted that her posts, especially in her final days, hinted at deeper emotional currents. The Truman Show quote and childhood imagery struck a chord with followers, some of whom interpreted the message as deeply introspective or even a farewell. Others simply saw it as a powerful reflection on life and visibility in the age of social media.

The loss of Mary Magdalene sparked a broader conversation about the pressures faced by influencers and the ways in which public life can intersect with personal struggles. Commentators have pointed to the intense scrutiny and emotional labor demanded of content creators, especially those whose identities are tied closely to physical transformation and audience attention. Stories like hers have encouraged renewed focus on mental health awareness and the need for supportive resources within the influencer community and beyond.

In addition to her cosmetic and tattoo work, Gongora was also known for her creative pursuits, including psychedelic art that she shared on her platforms. Her style and presence left an indelible mark on a subculture of online followers who admired her fearless, avant-garde approach to self-creation. Her death, sudden and shocking, has prompted an outpouring of grief from fans who saw in her a spirit unafraid to challenge norms and explore the boundaries of identity and appearance.

As the investigation into her fall continues, and as friends and family mourn her passing, the legacy of Mary Magdalene will remain tied both to the striking visuals that defined her online influence and to the human story behind the persona. Her life and career embodied a collision of art, self-expression and the fraught realities of existing in the public gaze. The reactions to her death underscore how deeply influencers can impact the lives of their audiences, sometimes in ways far more profound than imagined.