Sarah Becker dead aged 52: Reality TV star who appeared on MTV’s ‘The Real World Miami’ dies by suicide

Sarah Becker, a reality TV star who appeared on the fifth season of MTV’s The Real World, has died by suicide, TMZ reports.

A relative of Becker confirmed she died early last week at her home in Illinois.

She reportedly moved out of state to care for her sick mother and sister, but planned to move to California as soon as she could.

Becker has struggled with mental health issues in recent months, exacerbated by the responsibility of caring for her family and a skateboarding accident.

She made a career as a comic book editor and when she was 25 years old, she got the chance to star in a 22-episode season of The Real World in 1996.

Becker revealed to the Chicago Tribune in 1997 that she did not like the exposure she received from the show, saying that she sometimes wore a hood when she went out.

The Real World is a show on MTV that ran for 33 seasons until 2016, making it one of the longest-running reality shows in history.

Each season is set in a different city, with the story following a group of young adults from different walks of life who are forced to become roommates for several months.

Becker’s season took place in Miami, where she roomed with seven other strangers in their early to mid-20s.

Her co-stars included Dan Renzi, Melissa Padrón, Joe Patane, Cynthia Roberts, Flora Alekseyeun and Mike Lambert.

Alekseyeun posted a tribute to Becker on her Instagram Sunday, calling her former roommate “the most selfless person I knew.”

‘She was always friendly and helpful to everyone. I haven’t spoken to her in years and never knew she had any problems,” Alekseyeun wrote.

“My prayers go out to her family. RIP my roommate, my friend. May you skate with angels and never feel pain again.”

This season’s unprecedented twist had the group of youngsters trying to start a business together from their posh waterfront home in South Beach.

Becker was one of the oldest members of the cast, but described himself as “19-year-old trapped in a 25-year-old body.”

Her official MTV biography also revealed that she graduated from Indiana University and worked at WildStorm Comics in La Jolla, California.

“Sarah is a tomboy and says she doesn’t deal well with pettiness and wants to stay true to herself on the show,” her bio reads.

Becker is pictured here riding a skateboard. She was an avid skateboarder all her life

The cover photo for season 5 of The Real World Miami, which Becker turned to as a joke

After the show ended, Becker spoke with the Chicago Tribune about her experiences on TV.

“For me, ‘The Real World’ was a six-month vacation,” she said. “I knew from the start that it couldn’t be a stepping stone to bigger and better things.”

“I want my own magazine someday, and I don’t think Sarah from ‘The Real World’ will have anything to do with that,” Becker said.

Becker also revealed that she didn’t like the fame she got from the show, saying she sometimes wore a hood when she went out.

Becker actually applied for The Real World as a joke and was shocked when she was hired.

Despite initially having reservations, she decided to join the cast, adding that her experience “was amazing.” And I’ve learned that I’m quite happy with who I am.’

Friends of Becker took to social media to honor her memory in the hours after her death was made public.

“I saw the news today that we have lost one of everyone’s favorite WildStorm people, Sarah Becker,” former WildStorm Vice President of Marketing Jeff Mariotte wrote on Facebook.

“Even if you weren’t into comics in the 1990s, you might remember her from The Real World (and from the first episode of her season, part of which was filmed in our office and at Sarah’s wild going away party).”

“I’m so terribly sorry that Sarah is gone,” he concluded. “She added sunshine to every room she entered, the fans loved her, and so did we all. Fair winds, Sarah. We will miss you.’

Another friend, Daniel Norton, said Becker was “made of pure sunlight.”

“You couldn’t help but feel her warmth in her presence. I am grateful for our adventures and laughter,” Daniel Norton wrote.

Becker is credited as editor of dozens of comic book series released by WildStorm in the 1990s.

Becker’s family described her as a selfless person who cared for everyone else. She died at the age of 52.