TikTok star Shirley Raines, known for bringing meals and respect to people on Skid Row, dies at 58

Shirley Raines, a beacon of compassion for Los Angeles’ homeless community and founder of nonprofit Beauty 2 The Streetz, has died at 58, according to a statement released by her organization on Wednesday.

Known affectionately as “Ms. Shirley” to her more than 5 million TikTok followers and countless individuals experiencing homelessness, Raines dedicated her life to bringing dignity and essential services to those living on the streets. Her death has sent ripples of grief through both the social media landscape and homeless advocacy networks throughout Southern California.

“Through her tireless advocacy, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment, she used her powerful media platform to amplify the voices of those in need and to bring dignity, resources, and hope to some of the most underserved populations,” Beauty 2 The Streetz said in their announcement. The organization has not disclosed her cause of death but indicated more information would be forthcoming.

Raines’ journey to becoming a homeless advocate stemmed from profound personal tragedy. After losing one of her six children when he was a toddler, she channeled her grief into service, beginning her outreach work in 2017.

“It’s important you know that broken people are still very much useful,” Raines said during her acceptance speech as CNN’s Hero of the Year in 2021. “I would rather have him back than anything in the world, but I am a mother without a son, and there are a lot of people in the street that are without a mother. And I feel like it’s a fair exchange — I’m here for them.”

Her work took on special significance in Los Angeles County, which faces one of America’s most severe homelessness crises. A 2025 survey found approximately 72,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night across the county. Downtown’s Skid Row, where Raines frequently worked, has become emblematic of this humanitarian emergency, with hundreds living in makeshift dwellings that stretch for blocks.

Just days before her death, Raines posted a video showing her distributing lunches from her car window. The footage captured her characteristic warmth, addressing each person as “King” or “Queen” and celebrating their victories, no matter how small. When one man announced he had secured housing, she responded with genuine joy: “God is good! Look at you!”

Crushow Herring, art director of the Sidewalk Project, which uses art to empower homeless individuals in Los Angeles, described Raines as both sentimental and protective of the community she served.

“I’ve been getting calls all morning from people, not just who live in Skid Row but Angelenos who are shocked,” Herring said. “To see the work she did, and how people couldn’t wait to see her come out? It was a great mission. What most people need is just feeling dignity about themselves, because if they look better, they feel better.”

Beyond providing food and hygiene supplies, Raines offered beauty treatments — haircuts, makeup, colorful wigs — understanding that dignity encompasses more than just physical necessities. Her approach was holistic and empowering, often involving those she helped in her distribution efforts.

“By the time a year or two goes by, they’re part of the organization — they have responsibility, they have something to look forward to,” Herring explained. “She always had people around her that were motivational, and generous and polite to community members.”

Melissa Acedera, founder of Polo’s Pantry, recalled collaborating with Raines during Beauty 2 The Streetz’s early days. “It’s hard not to think of Shirley when I’m there,” Acedera said, noting Raines’ special attention to remembering birthdays and reaching out to transgender and queer individuals often marginalized even within homeless communities.

Raines’ impact extended beyond direct service. In 2025, she received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Social Media Personality, recognition of how effectively she used digital platforms to raise awareness about homelessness.

Following the announcement of her death, tributes poured in from fellow social media creators and advocates. Alexis Nikole Nelson, known online as “blackforager,” captured the sentiment of many: “Ms. Shirley was truly the best of us, love incarnate.”

As Los Angeles continues to grapple with its homelessness crisis, Raines’ legacy reminds us that behind the statistics are individual human beings deserving of dignity, care, and connection—a truth she embodied until her final days.