Vanity, Prince’s Former Protege, Dies At 57

Vanity, the lead singer of Vanity 6 and a longtime protege of Prince, has died. She was 57.

Vanity Dies

Vanity, whose real name was Denise Katrina Matthews, died at a hospital in Fremont, Calif., Monday, TMZ reported. It is believed that Vanity died from complications from sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis – a condition that involves the inflammation of the small intestines – which she was diagnosed with a few months ago.

Vanity had found success in music in the 80s, particularly with the 1982 hit “Nasty Girl” that Prince produced. After touring with Prince in 1999, Vanity pursued a solo singing career, as well as an acting career. She had appeared in The Last Dragon and Action Jackson.

For years, Vanity had been plagued by health issues stemming from a crack addiction in the 90s. As a result of an overdose in 1994, Vanity had kidney trouble and underwent dialysis treatments regularly.

After her overdose, Vanity embraced sobriety and became a born-again Christian.

In 1999, Vanity published a memoir titled Blame It On Vanity that chronicles her battle with substance abuse, as well as her decision to turn to religion.