Tributes have been paid to a British student nurse and TikTok influencer who was fatally stabbed in the US just days before she was due to graduate.
Elizabeth Odunsi, known to friends and family as Tamilore Odunsi and on social media as Tami Dollars, died on the afternoon of 26 April at an apartment in Houston, Texas.
Chester Lamar Grant
The 23-year-old student nurse, who was studying nursing at Texas Woman’s University, was found with multiple stab wounds by police officers who were called to the scene for a welfare check, according to a statement from Houston Police Department.
She was pronounced dead on the scene by paramedics.
A man who lived with Ms Odunsi, 40-year-old Chester Lamar Grant, has since been charged with her murder.
Grant was found in the same apartment with “at least one stab wound”, taken to hospital and subsequently arrested on 2 May.
A statement from Ms Odunsi’s family described her as a “beautiful soul, full of light, ambition and kindness”.
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She had moved from the UK to the US to pursue a “dream” of becoming a nurse, they said.
Her family said: “Tami had a special love for children and always dreamed of making a difference in young lives through her future work in healthcare.
“Outside of her studies, she brought joy to others through her love for creating content and expressing her vibrant personality.”
Ms Odunsi was popular on social media app TikTok, where she shared study tips, posted about her experiences training to become a nurse and spoke about her future aspirations to more than 50,000 followers.
The family has since launched a fundraiser campaign to repatriate Ms Odunsi’s body back to the UK, cover funeral costs and otherwise support them in the aftermath of her death.
“A devoted Christian, [Tami] was a God-fearing young woman who found strength and joy in her faith,” the family statement added.
“She had a deep love for her church community, where she was actively involved and always eager to serve others with humility and grace.”
The family added: “We love you, Tami. You will forever be in our hearts.”
One donator said Ms Odunsi had “helped so many people, including me, with her study videos”, adding: “She will be remembered.”
