At the age of three, Michaela DePrince tragically lost both her parents—her mother died of starvation, and her father was brutally killed by the Revolutionary United Front during the Sierra Leone Civil War.
Orphaned and left to face the harsh realities of life, Michaela was eventually adopted at the age of four by Elaine and Charles DePrince.
Key Takeaways
- When she was three years old, the Revolutionary United Front shot and executed her father, and not long after, her mother starved to death.
- She and another child, also named Mabinty, who was subsequently renamed Mia, were adopted by Cherry Hill, New Jersey couple Elaine and Charles DePrince.
- Sadly following years of fighting a genetic illness and heart failures Elaine DePrince passed away on September 10, 2024.
Ballet dancer Michaela Mabinty DePrince’s rise to prominence on the international scene was viewed as an inspiring tale of triumph over hardship, having arrived in the US as an orphan from war-torn Sierra Leone.
DePrince, who performed with Beyoncé and was heralded as a trailblazer, passed away “suddenly” on September 10, according to her family. There was no given cause of death.
Her family then verified the news of her passing in a joint Facebook message after it had first been revealed on her own Instagram page.
Following Michael’s passing, her adoptive mother also passed away just 24 hours apart.
After Ballerina De Prince and her adoptive mother passed away, fans were intrigued to learn more about her original parents as well as her adoptive parents.
Michaela DePrince’s Real Parents
Michael DePrince, was born to her parents on January 6, 1995, in Kenema, Sierra Leone. She lost her parents at a young age due to the brutal Sierra Leonean Civil War.
Her father was executed by the Revolutionary United Front when she was just three years old, and shortly after, her mother tragically succumbed to starvation.
Due to the chaos of the war and her young age, little is known about her parents. Following their deaths, her uncle took her to an orphanage for safety.
However, life there was far from easy. DePrince suffered neglect and cruelty, frequently being called a “Devil’s Child” because of her vitiligo, a skin condition that causes patches of skin to lose pigmentation.
During her time at the orphanage, she endured further hardship when the orphanage was bombed.
Forced to flee, she eventually made her way to a refugee camp, marking yet another chapter of survival in her early years.
Michaela DePrince’s Adoptive Parents
Mabinty Bangura DePrince, later renamed Michaela DePrince, was adopted alongside another child, also named Mabinty (renamed Mia), by Elaine and Charles DePrince from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
The two orphans were brought to the U.S. in 1999 at the age of four. Michaela, one of eleven children raised by the DePrince family, nine of whom were adopted, developed a passion for ballet.
Her adoptive mother, Elaine, signed her up for ballet classes and supported her dreams.
Charles DePrince, born in Camden, NJ, was an Army veteran and worked for Fuji Chemical Industries, where he became Chairman of the Board.
He was also involved in hemophilia research and helped with Elaine’s book Cry Bloody Murder. Charles passed away in 2020 at age 76 due to Lewy Body dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
Elaine DePrince, born in 1947, was an author, teacher, and advocate for hemophilia awareness and adoptive parenting.
She was inspired to adopt after reading The Family Nobody Wanted in fifth grade and expressed her desire to adopt to Charles before they married in 1971.
Elaine co-wrote Michaela’s autobiography, Taking Flight, in 2014. She passed away on September 11, 2024, after battling a genetic illness and heart failure.
Tragically, she was not informed of Michaela’s passing before her own death. The family is deeply saddened by these losses and appreciates the support they’ve received during this difficult time.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- She was inspired by a magazine cover of a ballerina she found outside the orphanage gates while in Sierra Leone.
- Michaela was refused by 12 other families due to a skin pigmentation condition.
- DePrince prayed in Israel while touring with Harlem Dance Theatre, wearing a Hamsa.
