A teen model who had dreams to move to New York City to continue her modeling career drowned at a state park on Friday.
RELATED STORIES: Supermodel Duckie Thot Reacts After A Fan Calls Her “The Black Kendall Jenner”
Kara Wrice,16, was with a friend when she died in the Meramac River in Castlewood State Park and her father, Karl Wrice, said his daughter was drinking prior to her drowning. According to the New York Post, St. Louis County police said they had to shut down the park in order to search for the teen’s body which was found later that day. Additionally, the heavy rain from days prior posed an increased risk for swimmers as told by Sgt. Tracy Panus.
Kara started her career at the age of 14 after signing with Mother Model Management and posed in campaigns for Famous Footwear. The company said in an Instagram that they were “heartbroken” over the model’s tragic death.
RELATED STORIES: Naya Rivera To Posthumously Voice Catwoman in Animated Batman
“We are heartbroken. Devastated. She was cherished. A truly special girl and an important part of Mother. She was a leader, a bright spot in our day. We KNEW she was destined for great things, inside and outside of the modeling world.”
Her high school also released a statement in reference to the teen’s death and her father added that she was a straight-A student who played volleyball.
A scholarship fund was also created in her name via a GoFundMe page.