A prominent cancer researcher and fitness advocate who left social media to focus on her mental health died suddenly at age 36, just weeks after her birthday, her fiancé announced this week.
Sudden Loss Shocks Fitness Community
Stephanie Buttermore, who held a PhD in Biomedical Sciences and specialized in ovarian cancer research, passed away on February 25. Her partner of ten years, bodybuilder Jeff Nippard, shared the news through his Instagram account on Friday. The announcement came from his team, expressing profound sorrow and asking for privacy during this difficult time. Nippard did not disclose the cause of death in his statement to followers.
Buttermore built a substantial following through her work promoting body positivity and wellness. The Florida-based scientist maintained more than 525,000 Instagram followers and nearly 1.2 million YouTube subscribers before stepping away from public platforms. She used her channels to share workout routines, nutrition guidance, and wellness advice specifically aimed at women. The couple got engaged in 2022 after Nippard reached out to her through direct messages six years earlier.
Mental Health Struggles Led to Social Media Break
The former bodybuilder made her last Instagram post in May 2024, explaining her extended absence from social media. In that final message, she described dramatic improvements in her mental health after leaving the platforms. She revealed that anxiety had previously been almost crippling, preventing her from breathing normally or leaving her house at times. After stepping away, she reported no longer struggling with anxiety at all, marking her mental health as the best it had ever been.
Tributes Pour In From Followers
Her openness about mental health challenges resonated deeply with her audience, many of whom credited her with helping them overcome eating disorders and body image issues. Followers flooded her social media pages with tributes following the announcement. One woman thanked her for inspiring countless others through her research and fitness journey. Another expressed devastation, saying Buttermore had helped her overcome an eating disorder during high school and college. Nippard’s team remembered her for her warmth, compassion, love for family, and dedication to ovarian cancer research.