A TikTok star who inspired tens of thousands of followers by documenting her battle with cervical cancer has died aged 23.
Jenna Anne Johnson built a huge online following after sharing candid updates about her diagnosis, treatment and the reality of living with cancer.
The influencer, from Stockholm, South Dakota, died on 29 May after spending five days in hospice care.
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Her death was announced by her sister Paige in an emotional video posted to Jenna’s TikTok account on 2 June.
Holding back tears, Paige told followers: “This is not a video that anyone should ever have to make, but it was her one request that if anything did happen I would update you guys.”
She revealed Jenna had died after spending five days in hospice care.
Paige added: “We fully believe that we are gonna meet her someday.
“On hospice, some of her last words to my parents were saying, ‘It’s beautiful’.”
Jenna’s death came almost two years after she was diagnosed with cervical cancer on 26 June 2024, as reported by Need To Know.
Her obituary said she passed away surrounded by family after facing the disease with “remarkable strength and courage”.
The 23-year-old amassed more than 50,000 followers on TikTok, where she openly discussed her diagnosis and worked to raise awareness of cervical cancer symptoms among younger women.
One of her most-viewed videos, titled “How I found out I had Stage 4 cancer”, was watched more than 3.4 million times.
In the clip, Jenna explained how she attended what she believed would be a routine appointment and smear test before receiving abnormal results.
Further tests later revealed she had adenoid carcinoma, a rare cancer affecting glandular tissue.
Doctors initially believed the disease was stage three and potentially curable.
But after chemotherapy and radiotherapy, scans showed the cancer had spread aggressively throughout her body.
Jenna told followers the disease had first been found in her cervix, uterus and lymph nodes before spreading further.
She also revealed her cancer was not linked to HPV, which causes the vast majority of cervical cancer cases.
Because of her age and the unusual nature of the diagnosis, she said doctors were left “absolutely baffled”.
Despite the devastating prognosis, Jenna continued using her platform to encourage others to prioritise their health.
Reflecting on her diagnosis in one video, she said: “Honestly, cancer was my biggest scare, too, and now that I have it, it just really is teaching me to live life to your fullest.
“You don’t know what’s gonna happen. You just need to live your life.”
Born on 24 February 2003, Jenna graduated from Milbank High School in 2021, where she took part in tennis, band, choir and colour guard.
Her obituary described her as having a “beautiful voice” and a love of singing around family and friends.
She later attended South Dakota State University before moving to Wilmington, North Carolina, where she worked as a nanny.
Her family said the role perfectly suited her caring personality.
The obituary said she had “a natural gift with children” and found genuine joy in looking after them.
Following her diagnosis, Jenna returned home and began sharing her journey online.
Her family said she built a huge community of supporters who followed her story and found strength in her words.
The obituary stated: “Jenna courageously shared her story on social media.
“Through her honesty and openness, she built a large community of followers who kept up with her journey and found strength in her words.
“Jenna used her platform not only to document her experience, but also to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer.”
Following news of her death, thousands of followers paid tribute online, thanking Jenna for raising awareness and for the honesty with which she documented her illness.
Funeral services were held in Milbank, South Dakota, on 3 June.
She is survived by her parents, Darwin and Audra Johnson, sisters Rachel and Paige, and her nephew, niece and extended family.
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