You may recognize her from her multiple appearances on MTV or her unforgettable moment when boyfriend Chris “CT” Tumburello gave her the confidence and courage to remove her wig for the first time on television. It all started on MTV’s Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Fresh Meat in 2006. But it wasn’t until MTV’s The Duel, when she revealed that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
“Cancer has changed who I am, it sounds cliché, but I’ve only got this one life, and I need to live every day to the fullest.”
She instantly became a role model for those fighting the same battle. She was obviously very public about her illness, sharing her confidence and courage with others; she showed what it was like to lose her hair due to chemotherapy. MedGift is a patient gift registry she created to help patients gather financial support for their medical needs from friends and family. Diem was and always will be a true hero.
Diem lost her third battle with cancer Friday morning, the same time she was born, in New York City at the age of 32. Her friends and family, including CT, stood by her side from the beginning and all the way through to the end. One week before her death, CT shared the already famous picture on Instagram showing him by her side, hand in hand; with the caption, “Your smile can change the world. It’s not the other way around.”