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Social media influencer Dominique McShain passed away at the age of 21, People Magazine reported on April 23, 2025. The news came a year after she shared her battle with an incurable colorectal cancer in April 2024. McShain was a TikTok and Instagram star from New Zealand.
Dominique’s last post came via Instagram on April 6, 2025, in which she addressed her friends and family, shared that she had “only a few days to a few weeks to live,” as per her last prognosis, and called it her “final update on my cancer journey until I have passed away.”
“My liver is failing rapidly to the point of jaundice, and the cancer is progressing quickly. Because of this, I’m no longer able to receive any treatments, including the chemo I’ve been on for 7 months over last year. At this point, I’ve transitioned into end-of-life care, focusing on pain relief and managing side effects,” her post read.
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Dominique McShain mentioned spending enough time at the hospital and transitioning into hospice care. The now-deceased influencer mentioned that talking about her cancer journey made her “sentimental” and spill emotions, heavy on her heart.
"My life may be short, but I genuinely think I've squeezed every bit out of it,” she added while giving a shoutout to her family, friends, and husband, Sean.
Besides her last Instagram post, she also uploaded a final video on TikTok on April 11. She told her followers that she was “alive” but didn’t have much time on her hands.
More about Dominique McShain in the wake of her demise
Dominique McShain is an internet personality and content creator from Christchurch, South Island, in New Zealand, who began her social media journey by posting on TikTok in May 2024, following her cancer diagnosis.
In her debut post, she shared that she was a third-year psychology student at university who wished to specialize in clinical psychology. However, Dominique mentioned her diagnosis had paused her career.
Back then, McShain shared that the cancer had metastasized to her liver, and she was given one to five years to live.
She also informed that she was a part-time human resources employee, but had to stop both work and school because of her “intense” treatment, including chemotherapy that caused her some “really bad days.”
Her introductory video post also mentioned that she joined TikTok to leave behind a legacy that could help people and raise awareness about cancer.
Eventually, she rose to fame and earned 200,000 followers on the platform. She was also active on Instagram, where she amassed 11.6K followers.
Over the last year, Dominique McShain documented other significant moments of her life, such as getting married to her “childhood sweetheart,” Sean Suson, in July 2024, honeymooning in Thailand, their engagement story, her 21st birthday, and dealing with the news of never becoming pregnant because of her diagnosis.
Exploring Dominique McShain’s final Instagram post
In her final Instagram post earlier this month, Dominique McShain shared that although her life was nearing its end, she was glad to have “checked off all the classic teenage milestones,” such as first kiss, breakup drama, friendship fallouts, sneaking out of home to attend parties, falling in love, enjoying nights with her girlfriends, moving to a new city, and following her passions.
McShain shared that she also partook in “big adult moments” such as tying the knot, getting a dog as a couple, traveling with her husband, and taking an “impulsive trip” to Japan with her three friends.
“I won the lottery with a family that loves me unconditionally, friends who would 10000% donate a liver to me or do anything they could (and probably argue over who gets to do it), and the sweetest husband, Sean, who’s been my rock through everything – before and after my diagnosis,” Dominique wrote.
She wrote that earlier, she was regretting not having the time or opportunity to experience other “key adult moments,” however, lately, she had “come to terms” with the feeling.
“The grief of what I’m missing out on is no longer overwhelming, though. Recently, I’ve found a sense of acceptance,” the TikToker added.
Dominique McShain explained she was “desensitized” to “pain” and “bad news” and had embraced “peace” and the thought that there was something more waiting for her on the “other side.”
She shared “picturing Heaven often,” where she imagined being free from pain, constant suffering, and medication, and being able to “run, to breathe, to feel whole.”
The online personality shared that being at rest after death made her feel a sense of comfort, alongside the chance to meet her loved ones who were long gone, and be in the presence of God.
She concluded by sharing her love and gratitude for her followers, friends, and family.
