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Skip to content TOP NAVIGATION Explore PEOPLE.com PEOPLE.com * News * All News * Coronavirus * Crime * Human Interest * Politics * Entertainment * All Entertainment * Celebrity * TV * Movies * Music * Country * Awards * Sports * Theater * Books * Coronavirus * Royals * Lifestyle * All Lifestyle * Style * Fashion * Beauty * Health * Parents * Home * Real Estate * Pets * Food * Shopping * Tech * PeopleTV * Shopping * Coupons Search Close PROFILE MENU Join Now Join Now ACCOUNT * Join Now * My Profile * Email Preferences * Newsletters * Manage Your Subscription * Logout -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MORE * Give a Gift Subscription * Premium My Account My Account ACCOUNT * Join Now * My Profile * Email Preferences * Newsletters * Manage Your Subscription * Logout -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MORE * Give a Gift Subscription * Premium Login Subscribe Close this dialog window EXPLORE PEOPLE.COM PEOPLE.com PEOPLE.com * Search * Explore EXPLORE * Every Tiara Worn at a Royal Wedding EVERY TIARA WORN AT A ROYAL WEDDING From Princess Beatrice to Meghan Markle Read More * Engineer Creates App To Translate Your Cat ENGINEER CREATES APP TO TRANSLATE YOUR CAT Find out what your cat is trying to tell you with a new cat app Read More * The Sweetest Photos of Princes Harry with Diana THE SWEETEST PHOTOS OF PRINCES HARRY WITH DIANA Princess Diana died when Harry was just 12 years old Read More * News NEWS See All News Sean Connery's Cause of Death Revealed Weeks After He Dies at Age 90 SEAN CONNERY'S CAUSE OF DEATH REVEALED WEEKS AFTER HE DIES AT AGE 90 Sean Connery died on Oct. 31 at age 90 * Coronavirus * Crime * Human Interest * Politics * Entertainment ENTERTAINMENT See All Entertainment Coyote Ugly Turns 20: Where Is the Cast Now? 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Van Life Influencer Lee MacMillan Dies by Suicide at 28: 'A Magnetic Force of Nature' VAN LIFE INFLUENCER LEE MACMILLAN DIES BY SUICIDE AT 28: 'A MAGNETIC FORCE OF NATURE' "She was the brightest light," a tribute on her Instagram page said By Naledi Ushe April 01, 2021 09:29 PM Advertisement FB Tweet More Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print 00:09 01:04 Share: Van Life Influencer Lee MacMillan Dies by Suicide at 28: 'A Magnetic Force of Nature' × Direct Link You might like × Van Life Influencer Lee MacMillan Dies by Suicide at 28: 'A Magnetic Force of Nature' Meet These Twins Separated at Birth, Reunited by a DNA Test: It Was 'Complete Physical Shock' Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Already Hinted at the Baby Girl Names They Like Matthew Perry Splits from Fiancée Molly Hurwitz: 'Sometimes Things Just Don't Work Out' Rebel Wilson Hits the Beach in a Curve-Hugging Swimsuit and Givenchy Slides Sophia Bush Recalls Being 'Fetishized' on One Tree Hill: It Was 'Some Gross Older Man's Fantasy' JoJo Siwa Says She's Trying 'So Bad' to Get Kissing Scene with a Man Removed from Upcoming Movie Inspired by Friend Kobe Bryant, Joe Barksdale Quit NFL to Become Musician: 'Decided to Do What I Love' Grand Slam Leaders Pledge to Address Tennis Players' Mental Health Concerns, Commend Naomi Osaka Daughter and Mother Reunited After Year Apart Kourtney Kardashian Spends Memorial Day with Boyfriend Travis Barker and Her Kids: 'Happy Weekend' Chris Pratt Honors Fallen Veterans in Emotional Memorial Day Tribute: 'May God Give Their Souls Rest' Jonathan Van Ness Talks Navigating Mental Health in HIV/AIDS Community and New Documentary Serena Williams, Martina Navratilova, and More Stars Show Support for Naomi Osaka After French Open Exit 'Fatigued' Driver Hits Dad and His 2 Daughters on Wyo. 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Glenn Close Says She Is 'Psychologically Traumatized' After Spending Her Childhood in a Cult People Show May 28, 2021 Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond Reveals How She Lost 38 Pounds: 'I Feel So Much Better' Lee MacMillan, an influencer known for traveling the world in her van, has died. She was 28. MacMillan died Friday in Santa Barbara, Calif., Friday after going missing, Santa Barbara Police Lt. Joshua Morton said in a press release. Get push notifications with news, features and more. + Follow Following You'll get the latest updates on this topic in your browser notifications. A post to MacMillan's Instagram account on Monday confirmed her death was by suicide. "After living an extraordinary life, and fighting a brave battle with depression, our hearts are shattered to share that Lee took her life on Friday," the post said. "She was the brightest light, a magnetic force of nature and was loved by so so many." The statement continued, "If we can do one thing for Lee now, in the midst of this soul-crushing loss, it's to spread the message that mental health is just as real as physical health, and that illness can strike anyone, no matter how unlikely they may seem. It's ok to not be ok, it's ok to ask for help, it's absolutely necessary to ask for help." > View this post on Instagram > > > > > A post shared by Life with Lee ☾ (@lifewithlee) "Lee was an advocate for mental health. She was candid and open about her own struggles. She was receiving help: from professionals, from family, from friends. She had support around her. She was not alone, she was not trying to fight this alone," the post said. "And yet she still succumbed to this terrible illness. It is more nuanced than we can, or do, appreciate or understand." Lee MacMillan Credit: Lee MacMillan/instagram The statement concluded by urging followers not to fixate on how someone's life might look on social media and stressed the importance of checking in on your loved ones. MacMillan built up a social media following with her ex-boyfriend Max Bidstrup as they took on adventures with their dog Occy in a travel van. On their YouTube channel Max & Lee, they amassed 497,000 followers. RELATED: TikTok Personality Rochelle Hager Dies at 31 After Tree Falls on Her Car: 'It Was Instant' The couple later announced in January 2020 that they split and Bidstrup moved back to his hometown in Australia with Occy. Regardless of their breakup, the pair still supported each other by sharing videos from their separate YouTube channels on the joint one they had. MacMillan went on to launch her own channel in December titled Life with Lee that has 49, 800 followers. The traveler updated fans in January on what she had been up to in the year since she'd been off YouTube. MacMillan said that she was working on her mental health, had picked up golf and cycling, and began dating Jordan Chiu. She also started the process to build another travel van after taking a break amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The "shiny" new van, she excitedly shared, had a key start from her phone. "This is the very first vehicle that I own on my own," MacMillan revealed in one video. Following her death, her boyfriend penned a sweet tribute. "You were a dream beyond my wildest dreams. You filled my heart up full to bursting and stretched it further than what I ever imagined was possible," Chui wrote. "You were my person, my partner, my best friend. Every day with you was an adventure and I hope wherever you are you've found peace and snuggles." He added, "Rest easy puppy. I love you more than you will ever know." MacMillan's ex also shared a touching message. "It was always you ❤️," Bidstrup said. "You were the best thing to ever happen to me. You were the best person I have ever met. I fell in love with you the day we met yet you were still the stronger one that said 'I love you' first. I never stopped loving you Mountie, I hope you know that ❤️." The Australian travel influencer concluded, "I will always cherish my time with you in this world and hope beyond hope to see you in the next." Lee MacMillan Credit: Lee MacMillan/instagram RELATED: Stars We Lost in 2021 A GoFundMe page has been set up in MacMillan's name to start a foundation "to promote mental health awareness and to combat cyberbullying," the influencer's Instagram shared on Thursday. 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