Homeless advocates and communities across Los Angeles continued to mourn Thursday the death of Shirley Raines, founder of the nonprofit Beauty 2 The Streetz, who dedicated her life to serving unhoused people.
Beauty 2 The Streetz announced Wednesday the death of Raines, 58, a social media creator and the nonprofit’s founder.
She was affectionately known as “Ms. Shirley” to the unhoused communities she served on Skid Row and throughout Los Angeles, as well as in Las Vegas and to her more than 5 million followers on TikTok.
Raines shared posts and livestreams of her work on TikTok, providing hair care, makeup, food and clothing to unhoused people. She built a large following while documenting her mission to restore dignity to people facing hardship.
“Ms. Shirley dedicated her life to serving others and made an immeasurable impact on homeless communities throughout Los Angeles and Nevada,” the nonprofit wrote in a statement posted to Instagram.
“Through her tireless advocacy, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment, she used her powerful media platform to amplify the voices of those in need and to bring dignity, resources, and hope to some of the most underserved populations.”
“This loss is devastating to the entire Beauty 2 The Streetz team, the communities we serve, and the countless individuals whose lives were forever changed by Ms. Shirley’s love, generosity, and selfless service,” the statement continued. “Her legacy will continue to live on through the work she started and the hearts she touched.”
The nonprofit asked supporters to keep Raines’ family, loved ones, and the Beauty 2 The Streetz organization in their prayers.
No details regarding her death were released, but the group said additional information would be shared when available.
Raines began working with the homeless community in 2017. She was named a CNN Hero of the Year in 2021 and received a NAACP Image Award in 2025.
A native of Compton, Raines grew up in Los Angeles County. In 1990, her 2-year-old son, Demetrius, died. She previously spoke publicly about how the loss led to struggles with grief and financial insecurity.
In a 2021 interview with CNN, Raines said she found “purpose for her pain” through her outreach work.
The NAACP Los Angeles described Raines as more than an advocate, calling her the “heartbeat of Skid Row.”
“Shirley Raines didn’t just serve our community; she loved our community,” the NAACP Los Angeles Executive Committee said in a statement Wednesday.
“She demonstrated that compassion is a verb. Her legacy is a testament to the power of one individual to spark a movement of radical empathy and systemic change. While our city feels a bit dimmer today, the light she brought to the thousands she served will never be extinguished.”