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Honorary CoverGirl Loses Cancer Battle

Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
Joshua C. Cruey
/
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

Thirteen-year-old Talia Castellano, who stared down cancer and refused to blink for six years, died Tuesday of neuroblastoma, the Orlando Sentinel reports. As a preteen, bald from chemotherapy, the Orlando-area girl developed YouTube videos showing how to put on makeup. She became a nationwide inspiration for young cancer patients and others and was dubbed an “honorary CoverGirl” by Ellen Degeneres. 

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.