NEWSJade Goody Dies
March 22 2009, Published 10:30 a.m. ET
Reality TV star Jade Goody died in her sleep today, her publicist Max Clifford said.
The brave star died with her mother Jackiey Budden at her side at her home in Upshire, Essex, England at 3:14 a.m.
“My beautiful daughter is at peace,” Ms. Budden said.
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Speaking outside her home, wearing pajamas with a coat over the top, she added: “Family and friends would like privacy at last.”
In a sad twist, today is Mother’s Day in the U.K.
Referring to how her public battle with cancer has raised awareness of the disease, Mr. Clifford said: “I think she’s going to be remembered as a young girl who has, and who will, save an awful lot of lives.
“She was a very, very brave girl. And she faced her death in the way she faced her whole life - full on, with a lot of courage.”
Before she died, Jade made sure she was christened alongside her boys, and married the love of her life, Jack Tweed. She passed away a month after her wedding.
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Jade’s life was a true Cinderella story of rags-to-riches and her against-the-odds success made her one of Britain’s most loved reality TV stars.
Jade Cerisa Lorraine Goody was born June 5th, 1981 in Bermondsey, South East London and was brought up by her mother Jackiey Budden.
After leaving school she worked as a dental nurse before her life took an unexpected turn in 2002 when she saw a TV advert asking for people to take part in the UK’s Big Brother 3.
Within a day of arriving on our screens viewers put her up for eviction – but luckily her fellow housemates saved her and as time went on, she became the nation’s talking point.
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By the time the show came to an end agents were lining up to sign Jade, with experts claiming she could make millions of pounds.
Following her success on Big Brother Jade fronted five of her own TV shows as well as countless celebrity appearances on talkshows.
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She also released three fitness DVDs and two perfumes, including "Shh…" – which was a best seller in 2006.
Jade remained in the public eye with appearances on many more British TV shows, including Celebrity Stars in their Eyes, Celebrity Driving School, Celebrity Weakest Link and Celebrity Wife Swap.
She wrote two autobiographies, a cookbook, became a regular magazine contributor and opened up her own beauty salon – which became the focus of her reality TV show Jade’s Salon.
Jade soon found romance with hunky fellow reality TV star Jeff Brazier. The couple had two children together, Bobby and Freddy, before breaking up in 2004.
Then Jade met Jack Tweed, whom she would eventually marry.
In 2007, Jade hit the headlines again after becoming embroiled in a race row during her appearance on Celebrity Big Brother with fellow contestant Shilpa Shetty.
After losing TV and book deals, Jade bravely faced her critics, visiting India, where she said: "I am sincerely sorry for the pain and hurt I caused to Shilpa’s family. I am wrong and I am not trying to justify my words in any way." Shilpa, meanwhile, revealed she had forgiven Jade and that the public should too.
But Jade ploughed on, reuniting with Shilpa on India’s own version of ir in August 2008.
She planned to spend many weeks as a contestant, showing the Indian public the real woman behind the headlines.
However, it wasn’t to be as she was called into the Diary Room and told the devastating news that she had cervical cancer.
Jade fought hard and was determined not to let the disease kill her. But after months of chemotherapy and treatments Jade’s doctors told her the disease had spread and little else could be done for her.
On February 22nd 2009, Jade married Jack, the love of her life, wearing a dress from Harrod's in a stunning ceremony in Essex.
Jade Goody died from cervical cancer on March 22nd, 2009, aged 27.
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