Click to play videoNew Delhi: The 7-month long agonizing wait for death came to an end for reality television star Jade Goody. The British celebrity who was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year succumbed to her illness on early Sunday morning.
“Jade died at 3:55 this morning, and family and friends would like this privacy at last for this morning. Thank you,” says Jackiey Budden.
Born Jade Cerisa Lorraine Goody on June 5th 1981, she had her first brush with fame with Channel Four's reality show Big Brother in 2002 and then in 2007.
She became a tabloid favourite for making alleged racist remarks against Shilpa Shetty on the show. Jade received news of her illness while she was in India to participate in the Indian version of Big Brother, Big Boss. Her housemates from the show spoke about Jade's love for her two sons.
“She was the only bread earner and she was aware of taking care of her kids,” says actor, Payal Rohatgi.
Though 27 year old Goody had a short life, she lived it to the fullest.
“I think she has achieved all she wanted to. She has set all arrangements for her boys' future. She wanted to be married, wanted to be christened with her sons as she believes she will be closer to them through Jesus. She has also campaigned for cancer and now millions of women are more aware of the disease and are getting themselves screened. So she has achieved what she set out to,” says Jade's publicist and friend, Max Clifford.
Though popularly known as a controversial television celebrity, Jade herself wanted to be remembered as a fighter.
"I also want to be remembered as the girl who put up a fight and would never let herself get beaten down. I was given a death sentence but I didn't let it kill me. "I fought it, got married, got christened. I'm happy. I've achieved more in 27 years than some achieve in a lifetime"
Jade's fans and well-wishers laid floral tributes and cards on Sunday outside her house in Essex, England.
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