Shirley Raines, affectionately known as Ms Shirley online, has passed away, leaving a significant impact through her charitable endeavors on Skid Row.
Shirley was a prominent TikTok creator in Los Angeles and the founder of the nonprofit organization Beauty 2 the Streetz, which aimed at assisting the homeless population in the area.
Through her organization, Shirley provided food, clothing, and hygiene products to those in need, garnering a following that appreciated her benevolent efforts.
The news of her passing was shared by Beauty 2 the Streetz on Wednesday, January 28.
In a statement to TMZ, her sister revealed that Shirley was ‘healthy’ and not on any medication at the time of her passing. She was found unresponsive next to her bed on Tuesday.
However, specific details regarding the circumstances or exact date of her death were not disclosed.
Shirley was renowned for addressing the homeless individuals she visited as ‘kings and queens,’ even offering haircuts and dyeing their hair in a makeshift beauty salon.
The inspiration for Beauty 2 the Streetz stemmed from Shirley’s own experience of homelessness in the 1990s, a difficult period that coincided with the tragic death of her two-year-old son, Demetrius J. Stephens Jr., due to accidental poisoning.
Eventually, Shirley settled in Inglewood and held multiple jobs.
During a 2020 interview with Shoutout LA, she shared, “I would like the world to know that I’m a broken woman who buried a child, I take 20mg of prozac every day and I suffer from anxiety/panic disorder.”
She added, “I’m not waiting for things to be better for me but I’m pushing through my own personal crap to live out my purpose.”
Her journey into volunteer work began in 2017 when her twin sister encouraged her to find an emotional outlet, leading her to participate in a volunteer event for homeless people in Los Angeles.
At the event, after receiving compliments about her hair, she arrived with a bucket of hot water and products to begin her work.
This initiative led her to recruit more supporters for her mission.
Within two years, she formalized her nonprofit organization and was actively providing weekly assistance on the streets.
Shirley expressed that caring for others helped her find positivity amid her personal grief and struggles.
She shared in a 2022 Cosmopolitan article, “For the brief time I spent each day loving my body, I was able to feel like me.”
She continued, “When I focused on self-care, on making myself look good, I felt good.”