(AllHipHop News) Beloved entertainer-turned-preacher Vanity (real name Denise Mathews) died Monday (February 15) after a prolonged illness. The Prince-affiliate was well-known for her hit song “Nasty Girl.” She was 57.
“SADDEN my FRIEND IN CHRIST gone 2day. Vanity, Denise Matthews. MISS YOU DEARLY. U ARE IN HIS ARMS NOW, NO Pain,” said drummer and friend Sheila E.
To many she was a sex symbol, but would go one to shun her past to become an evangelist.
At the time of her death, she was apparently working on a book and raising funds for her medical bills. Four months ago, she posted on GoFund me, “My Nephrologist told me Friday afternoon that i did not have Pacreatitis and that is good news however the bad news is they say i have ‘Sclerosis Encapsulating Peritonitis’ I thought the first diagnosis was weird because i was never a drinker nor have i ever been drunk in my whole life, that was not my drug of choice ‘back in the day.’”
In the post, she said she was in “excruciating” pain during her treatment.
“I will endure until He comes for my soul. ..Tho my testimonies, some hard and some dangerously painful are all unto the glory of the Lord,” she maintained. She suffered incredible damage to her kidneys after a 1994 drug overdose and had 23 surgeries since that time.
The R&B star was mentored by Prince in the 1980’s and was the crush of many boys, primarily stemming from her song “Nasty Boys.” She also appeared in the hit movie “The Last Dragon” and “Action Jackson.”
AllHipHop sends deep, profound condolences to her friends and family.