Sha’Vi Lewis,a fashion designerwho rose to prominence inProject RunwaySeason 18, has unfortunately died at the age of 39. His passing was announced on Tuesday, August 15, 2025, by his aunt,Deidra “DivaDoll” Elkerson, who confirmed that Sha’Vi died on Monday, June 01, 2025. No cause of death has been shared publicly yet.
Deidra shared the news of her nephew’s passing in a heartfelt post on Facebook in all-cap letters. While the all-cap tone initially seems like a boomer’s way of typing it all out, Deidra actually went on tomake it clear in the post that she is shouting it. While the message is long, here’s a snippet fromher caption that perfectly details the aunt’s sentimentsand how much Sha’Vi was loved.
“MY FABULOUS TALENTED NEPHEW Sha’Vi Lewis IS GONE FROM THIS PLACE. I WON’T HEAR HIS GREETINGS TO ME ANYMORE “HEY AUNTIE DIVA” (YES I AM SHOUTING) PLEASE KEEP HIS MOTHER Joyce Solomon-Frierson, HIS FATHER FRANKLIN FRIERSON, HIS BROTHER TROY SOLOMON FRIERSON AND HIS SISTERS AKIRA FRIERSON WOOD & DESTINY L. OWENS IN YOUR PRAYERS. I KNOW HE IS IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE.”
Sha’VI Lewis Got Eliminated From the Show’s 18th Installment at 10th Position
Sha’Vi, whose full name wasFranklin ‘ShaVi’ Lewis Frierson Jr., grew up in New Jersey before attending Clark Atlanta University, and it was during his university years that he cultivated a passion for fashion design. He built the skills that eventually led him to launch his own clothing line and star inProject Runway’s 18th installment as a contestant — the same year thatGeoffrey Macwas crowned as the winner.
His professional accomplishments include, but aren’t limited to, acting as creative director for menswear company Stephen F, designing pieces for FX’s showPoseSeason 2, and crafting looks worn by celebrities such asCynthia Bailey(RHOA).
Circling back to the show — while he was ultimately eliminated inthe sixth episode of the season, placing 10th overall,his warmth and talent earned him the admiration of many fans. In a statement toTMZ, Lewis’ sister,Akira Frierson Wood, expressed profound grief, and called him a “star” whose name was only just beginning to reach its full potential. She requested prayers for her loved one and said the family continues to grapple with the painful reality of losing him. Many more people since then have taken to social media to express their sentiments, including his co-contestantsBrittany AllenandNancy Volpe Beringer.
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