Loana Petrucciani was found unconscious by the municipal police at her home in Nice, according to information from Paris Match and BFMTV, published on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, early in the evening. The first star from French reality television was 48 years old. An investigation has been opened “to determine the causes of death.”
In 2001, after appearing on the first season of “Loft Story,” she captivated the audience, released singles, and graced magazine covers. However, she immediately faced sexism, a toxic entourage, and struggled with addiction to drugs, alcohol, and medication. Her journey was marked by numerous painful experiences, such as her father’s violence and alcoholism, her mother abandoning her at 17, and the press revealing the existence of her daughter Mindy without her knowledge.
After the show, Loana published her biography, “Elle m’appelait Miette,” written by Jean-François Kervéan, which sold over 100,000 copies. She continued her reality TV career, appearing on shows like “Je suis une célébrité, sortez-moi de là!” in 2006 and “Les Anges de la télé-réalité” in 2011.
In Paul Sanfourche’s book “Sexisme Story” (Seuil, 2021), Loana spoke about her addiction and the psychological abuse she endured, including financial exploitation by her former partner. She made several suicide attempts during this dark period, seeking help from psychiatric units.
Throughout her tumultuous life, Loana faced challenges such as fat-shaming, financial struggles, and accusations of violence from her ex-partner. She accused him of domestic violence, leading to legal action. In 2020, she accused her agent of trying to harm her through medication, resulting in a hospitalization due to a GHB overdose in 2021.
Loana’s mental health struggles were revealed in an interview with Public, where she discussed her financial difficulties and how she earns income through personalized videos. She also disclosed her bipolar disorder and schizoaffective tendencies on Virgin Radio, emphasizing the impact on her life.
Her last public appearance, in September 2023 on “Touche pas à mon poste,” saw her bravely recounting a horrific experience of being raped for ten hours, resulting in speech difficulties. This disclosure led to a regulatory authority reprimanding the broadcaster for potentially breaching Loana’s dignity during the interview.
