Matthew Ventress popularly known as Destinee LaShaee, a Transgender from the TV reality program My 600-lb Life, has inspired many people via her weight loss struggle. Despite her condition, she managed to shed 229 pounds. Because of her brave fights with her mental health and weight loss, she became an inspiration to many. Unfortunately, she passed away at the sage of 30 years, but she will always remain with us. In this article we will be learning the life's journey of Destinee LaShaee, tragic events, depression, how she made a huge body transformation and the cause of her death.
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Who was Destinee LaShaee?
Destinee LaShaee was the first out transgender cast of the TV reality show My 600-lb Life. The program focuses on patients who are extremely obese as they work with Dr. Nowzaradan, a bariatric surgeon, to reduce their weight and drastically alter their lifestyles in order to improve their general health. Destinee was featured in the Season seven, Episode 10 of the show in 2019. When she first appeared on the show she was 669 lbs. and 27 years old.
Her original name was Matthew Ventress and later she preferred to be called by the name Destinee LaShaee. When Matthew passed away, he was mostly presenting as a man and using the pronouns "he/him" and Matthew. However, he used the pronouns “she/her” when appearing on "My 600-lb Life" and went under the name Destinee LaShaee. However, he continued to occasionally use Destinee and present as a woman.
- About My 600-lb Life
A reality TV program on TLC called "My 600-Lb Life" follows people who are extremely obese and frequently weigh 600 pounds or more. The program follows the participants as they attempt to reduce weight and enhance their health under the supervision of bariatric surgeon Dr. Younan Nowzaradan (Dr. Now). It sheds light on their struggles, achievements, and the necessity of dealing with significant weight problems in order to improve their quality of life. Updates on their long-term results are given in the follow-up episodes.
Early Life of Destinee LaShaee
Destinee LaShaee was born on July 11, 1992, to parents Wayne B. Compton Sr. and Chasity H. Compton in Los Angeles and raised with three siblings, Wayne Compton, Destiny Arionna Compton & Anthony Compton.
She said on the reality program my 600-lb Life that her difficult life was complicated by the terrible death of her brother Anthony Compton, who she claimed died in her arms. Due to the tragic event she acquired terrible eating habits at a young age and gained a huge weight. She honestly disclosed her mental health difficulties, which included her struggle with body dysmorphia and trauma.
What has happened to Destinee LaShaee on the show?
In 2019, Destinee LaShaee, the first transgender star of My 600-lb Life's seventh season, made history. At the start of their adventure, Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, also known as Dr. Now, offered assistance to Destinee, who was 27 years old and 669 pounds. At the time of the episode, Matthew Ventress weighed 669 pounds and presented as a lady under the name Destinee LaShaee.
“I’m just 27. I have so much that I want to do and need to do. I can’t believe this is my life now. Where I lay here all day and wait for food,” Destinee told the cameras during her episode. She continued, “I feel like all I’m constantly doing is trying to escape my depression and pain at this point. Food is the only thing I can turn to to do that. I can feel it killing me. There is no way I’m going to survive for much longer.”
Destinee ultimately met the requirements for weight-loss surgery. Destinee was candid about her mental health problems. When she came out as homosexual and afterward transsexual, she did not feel entirely welcomed. Even Destinee acknowledged that she had attempted suicide. Anthony, their brother, passed away in Destinee's arms from an aneurysm brought on by a blood clot after a simple procedure.
Destinee, one of Dr. Younan Nazaradan's numerous patients from My 600-lb Life, checked herself into a mental hospital for a few weeks until the medical staff was sure she wouldn't injure herself ever again. But they acknowledged that they never overcame that suffering. After that tragic event, Destinee was honest about having depression. Destinee weighed 500 pounds and soon reached 440 pounds after losing 229 pounds at the end of the show. Later, she kept on losing weight and was keen on living a normal life.
- Destinee Lashaee Took Legal action against 600-Lb Life production
Destinee Lashaee made history in 2019 by becoming the first transgender person to appear on TLC’s 600-Lb Life, weighing 669-lbs. Following her time on the show, she managed to shed nearly 500-lbs, turning into a source of motivation for many. However, it was reported that her mental health suffered as a result of the series.
In the subsequent year, Lashaee, along with other stars from TLC, initiated a legal action against the show’s producers. They accused them of “Negligence, Intentional infliction of emotional distress, Fraud, and more.”
- Weight loss journey
Destinee LaShaee ultimately became one of the biggest success stories from TLC hit reality tv show My 600-lb Life. The determined contestant of the show proved to the whole world that it is possible to achieve what you want if you work regardless of all the nonsense excuses. Destinee LaShaee was eager to live a normal life and joined My 600-lb Life so that she could lose her unnecessary body weight and proceed to a healthy life. While joining the show in season 7, episode 10, her initial body weight was 669 pounds (303 kg). After following the strict diet and surgery by the bariatric surgeon Dr. Younan Nowzaradan (Dr. Now) she lost 229 pounds (117 kg) and at the end of the show she was 440 pounds (200 kg).
In June 2021, Destinee shared an Instagram post where she shared her huge body transformation which was even shocking to the fans of My 600-lb Life. In the post she mentioned her love to her fans and urged every obese person to keen on a healthier lifestyle. In the post she shared her four body transformation picture combined where her body weight was as below:
Her 669 pound weight dropped to 628 pounds on March 23, 2018. Then she went to 480 pounds on March 15, 2019 and she lost more weight where her body weight reached to 276 pounds on June 17, 2020 and finally she reached her dream slim body which was 207 pounds on July 19, 2021.
Cause of Destinee LaShaee's Death
Destinee passed away tragically on February 08, 2022 at the age of 30. She was the first transgender who died from My 600-lb Life. Her brother Wayne Compton broke the terrible news in a Facebook post.
He wrote, "No no no I’m sorry bro, I accept you for who you are, I accept every flaw that comes with you, I’m sorry you felt alone, I’m sorry you felt you had nobody else to turn to, I’m sorry you felt you had no other option Destiny wouldn’t have wanted this, lord why keep taking my siblings away, how much can I take."
Destinee LaShaee was the first Transgender who committed suicide from My 600-lb Life. Just one year after his sister Destiny passed away, she committed suicide. It seems that she was so depressed because of her sister's death. Destinee looked to be struggling in the days leading up to his death, posting multiple sorrowful notes on Facebook through his sisters Facebook handle.
“If I was surrounded by all my tears I’d be floating in the ocean” he wrote on Friday, February 04, 2022. From this status we can guess how much pain the individual is bearing. His last facebook post was on February 05, 2022 on his Facebook account which states,
“To Everyone Who Genuinely Love And Support Me I Love You And I’m Grateful To Have Touched Millions Of Lives And Hearts Around The World. My prayer for someone struggling in anyway is That You Keep fighting, Know Your Beautiful your Strong and You Can Do and Be Anything you want and Dream. Dreaming Is Free, Love Is Free And Most Importantly God Is Free. Living My life with So much pain for so long I’ve come to Realize that God Makes no Mistakes I’m Grateful for my Journey and all I’ve been Through I don’t Regret A Single Moment. Love you All.”
- Loosing Brother and Sister
Although several media reported that the Destinee committed suicide, the people close to him revealed later that, Destinee LaShaee died of Epilepsy following seizure while he was alone at home. It is obvious that Destinee was overcoming the loss of his beloved sister Destiny Arionna Compton who died on February 07, 2021 in a gunshot. Even before that Destinee admitted to having tried to harm herself. After a quick operation, Anthony, their brother, died in Destinee's arms from an aneurysm caused by a blood clot.
Until February 2022 she was reportedly the 11th individual to pass away after appearing in 600-Lb Life, which is a sad development. As of 2023 we have lost 4 more cast members of the show making the death list count to 15 so far. All the cast members who Joined Destinee LaShaee till 2023 are, Renee Brian, James King, Henry Foots, Ashley Randall, Laura Perez, Sean Milliken, James "L.B." Bonner, Lisa Fleming, Robert Buchel, Kelly Mason, Angela Gutierrez, Gina Krasley, Coliesa McMillian, and Larry Myers Jr,.
My 600-lb Life contestant was also active on different social media accounts. Although she is not with us, she was active on Instagramwith 10.4k followers and Facebook with around 10k followers on her official media handles.
Biography
Destinee LaShaee was born on July 11, 1992 in the United States to parents Wayne B. Compton Sr. and Chasity H. Compton. Although her upbringing was normal she had her own demons to fight with. Her life was full of ups and downs where she lost her brother Anthony and sister Destiny. Despite all the tragedies in her life she motivated herself in her weight loss journey and was able to shock the world with her huge body transformation after appearing in the TLC hit reality show My 600-lb Life. She also inspired millions of people around to maintain a healthy life, never give up and most specifically love oneself for being whoever they are.
Unfortunately, she died at the age of 30 on 8th February 2022. She was a transgender. She was following Christianity as a religion, and her ethnicity was mixed.
Trivia
- Destinee passed away tragically on February 08, 2022 at the age of 30.
- She was the first transgender who died from My 600-lb Life.
- When she first appeared on the show she was 669 lbs.
StarFacts of Destinee LaShaee
Full Name | Destinee LaShaee |
Nick Name | Matthew Ventress |
Gender | Transgender |
Date of birth | July 11, 1992 |
Date of Death | February 08, 2022 |
Age at the time of death | 30 years |
Place of birth | United States |
Parents | Father: Wayne B. Compton Sr. Mother: Chasity H. Compton |
Ethnicity | Mixed |
Religion | Christianity |
Starting Weight | 669 lbs. |
End Weight | 440 lbs. |
Total Weight Lost | 229 lbs. |
Siblings | 3 (Wayne Compton, Destiny Arionna Compton & Anthony Compton) |
Marital Status | Single |
Social Media | |
Profession | Reality television personality |
FAQ's of Destinee LaShaee
How much does Destinee LaShaee weigh on the show?
Destinee was 669 lbs. when she appeared on My 600-lb Life.
When did Destinee LaShaee die?
Destinee passed away tragically on 8th February 2022 at the age of 30.
What was the cause of Destinee LaShaee's Death?
Destinee LaShaee died of Epilepsy following Seizure although several media claimed that she committed suicide.
