A teen singer has died of meningitis after she fell into a coma for two weeks.
Shirin Abdullaeva, 19, started her music career at the tender age of three, composing her own songs and taking part in multiple music competitions.
She came from Namangan in Uzbekistan but found fame in China as a singer and cultural ambassador for her home country.
READ MORE: TikTok influencer nearly dies after almost getting swept to sea
She was considered a rising star in the Chinese entertainment industry and was even dubbed “the voice of Central Asia” by local media.
Just before she died, Shirin performed at the annual Spring Festival Gala, broadcast on Chinese New Year’s Eve on the primary TV channel CCTV-1.
She fell ill shortly after the televised extravaganza, which was watched by millions.
Her death was confirmed by her manager Chen Qian on 15 February.
Local media said she died of complications of meningitis caused by influenza A, but this was not confirmed by her management.
She had reportedly been in a coma for two weeks in her hometown before succumbing to her illness.
Shirin was fluent in four languages, including English and Mandarin which she used to build a large audience in China.
She made several other appearances on Chinese variety shows where she collaborated with Chinese singers such as Wang Feifei.
Shirin studied at Tsinghua University in Beijing where she was regarded as a cultural ambassador for Uzbekistan.
She once said: “I want to create an educational exchange project that enhances students’ understanding of different cultures, turning unity in diversity into a reality.”
Shirin was awarded the Zulfiya State Prize in the field of arts in 2023, as reported by Need To Know.
The young singer was best known for the songs ‘Metro’, ‘Bezori’, and ‘Luli’.
READ MORE: Ex-cop confesses to butchering wife and dumping body parts across holiday aisle
