Naya Rivera's Sister Recalls Star's Sad Death, How It Changed Her Own Life

Nickayla Rivera is reflecting on her sister Naya Rivera's death!

The 28-year-old model took to her YouTube channel to share a video titled "allow me to reintroduce myself," in which she got candid about her sister's tragic demise.

This emotional clip marked Nickayla's return to the social media platform after a four-year hiatus, and it seemed expressing her vulnerabilities was the best way to reconnect with fans.

Naya's grief-stricken sister has opened up about the aftermath of the "Glee" star's accidental drowning in July 2020 and how it changed her perspective about life.

The media personality, whose passion for modeling began as a child, took a significant blow to her self-confidence after her career hit a rough patch in 2019.

This period left the California native stuck in a dark place mentally. However, she had a brief reprieve from her problems when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020.

The social-distancing phase allowed the V blogger to spend quality time with her family, restoring her lost vitality. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worst when Naya died.

The model revealed that the loss left her family in "complete shock," which further escalated the sad state the 28-year-old was already in. Nickayla said:

"The dark place that I was in before only progressed when that happened. At that time, I had no thoughts of my future. I had no thoughts of myself really. I was only just experiencing pain."

The loss of the 2-time ALMA Award winner crushed her younger sister's soul, who gave in to depression, wasting away until she finally found the courage to live again.

The "Step Up: High Water" alum's sister realized that the excruciating pain she was experiencing wouldn't disappear until she changed her view of the world.

To achieve this goal, Nickayla went on a journey of self-discovery, and the first step she took in the search for happiness was to quit vaping, a habit she picked up two years ago.

The next step involved exploring and understanding her emotions through journaling and therapy, which helped the model learn to say "no" and put herself first.

This incredible journey taught the late SAG Award winner's sister the art of being "mindful and observant," which encouraged her to see the world in a whole new light. In her words:

"Before I looked at life like it was a burden because of small, minute things that in the grand scheme of things, don’t matter. Now I look at life for what it is: an opportunity to show the world who you are, for your authentic self and nothing less."

As reported by PageSix, Naya died at 33-years-old following a tragic drowning accident that occurred while the TV personality was on a boating trip with her only son Josey at Lake Piru.

"The Royal Family" alum was declared missing on July 8, 2020, after Josey was found unharmed on the boat without his mother.

After an extensive search was carried out, the LGBT+ advocate's body was discovered on July 13. Authorities believed the mother had drowned after saving her son's life by hoisting him onto the pontoon.

The "If I Die Young" performer may be gone, but Josey continues to be raised with love as Nickayla currently works along with her sister's ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, to keep the boy safe and happy. 

On January 12, The Blast shared the exciting news that the world was paying tribute to the "Sorry" singer on what would have been her 35th birthday. 

Fans and celebrities flooded social media platforms with their love for the late entertainer via numerous emotional posts that expressed how Naya had impacted their lives.

Some fans used this medium to remember the late "Glee" actor, Cory Monteith, who died in 2013 following the consumption of alcohol and heroin.

It was touching to see the world honor the "Sorry Not Sorry" author on her posthumous birthday, and her loved ones couldn't be happier.

Last June, George Rivera, the late actress's father, revealed that the family was slowly learning to navigate life without the entertainer. 

He stated that Josey asked about his mother frequently and credited Nickayla and Ryan for helping the little boy endure Naya's absence.