Bodybuilding Prodigy Mikayla Kingman Dies at 23

Instagram/Mikayla Kingman Mikayla Kingman pictured on her Instagram page in January 2019.

Mikayla Kingman, a Massachusetts-based bodybuilder, has died at the age of 23. Kingman’s death came shortly after fellow bodybuilder Luke Sandoe took his own life. Sandoe died earlier in May 2020.

Kingman’s obituary says that she “passed away unexpectedly” on May 10, 2020. The tribute describes Kingman as “an inspiration to all, her smile would light up a room.” Kingman’s obituary asks that memorial contributions be made in her name to Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Kingman Wrote on Instagram 2 Days Before Her Death: ‘Life Needs No Filter Even on its Darkest Days’

Kingman’s final Instagram post came on May 8. The image showed a sunset over water. It was accompanied by the caption, “Life needs no filter even on its darkest days.” At the time of her death, Kingman was living in Florida. Kingman was in a relationship with fellow bodybuilder Branden Tyler. The couple had been together since the summer of 2017. Kingman posted a photo of the two in June 2019, writing on Facebook:

How’d I get so lucky?! Three years with my best friend. Thank you for showing me what true love really is. I’m extremely grateful to have you in my life! You always know how to put a smile on my face. Every single day with you gets better and better. We’re in this fight together babe, I love you forever & always.

Kingman was born in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, on October 1, 1996. The obituary says that a “Celebration of Life” for Kingman will be held in Massachusetts “at a later date” and that “no services will be held in Florida.”

Kingman’s Former Coach Paid Tribute to Kingman, Calling Her One of the ‘Sweetest, Soft Spoken, Hardest Working’ People

Instagram/Mikayla KingmanMikayla Kingman pictured in April 2017.

In 2017, Kingman achieved three first-place finishes at the NPC Jay Cutler Classic in the figure division. At the time of her victories, Kingman wrote on Instagram:

I want to thank everyone, without you all believing in me and pushing me past my limits I wouldn’t be standing here right now. So many people to thank from family to friends, you’ve all motivated me to be the best me!

Kingman’s coach from that time, Justin Randall, paid tribute to Kingman following her death. Randall said in part:

She was the one of the sweetest, soft spoken, hardest working young ladies that I had ever met. We haven’t spoken in quite some time…but I’ll be forever grateful that she chose me as a coach and also a friend-and the memories we shared in that short time.

Kingman Maintained a Fitness Lifestyle Brand Up Until 2017

Facebook/Mikayla KingmanKingman pictured in May 2017.

Up until May 2017, Kingman maintained a coaching, nutrition and lifestyle brand via a Facebook page, Coach Mikayla Kingman. The last update on that page came on June 2, 2017.

In the bio section of a blog associated with her lifestyle brand, Kingman said she became interested in lifting and conditioning in high school. This came after Kingman tore her ACL twice. Kingman wrote, “This is what really pushed me to condition and train my body correctly to prevent injuries in the future.” Kingman added that by the time she left high school, she was living a health-conscious lifestyle.

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