Loving tributes have been paid to an “incredible” former reality TV star who has died. Jasmine Burkitt, affectionately known as Jazz, succumbed to illness on Monday, her fiancé revealed.
The 28-year-old from Conwy was one of the stars of BBC Three reality show Small Teen Bigger World which appeared on TV more than a decade ago. She featured in the programme alongside her mother Bev who died in 2014. In the show, Jasmine wanted to show people that she was just like any teenager despite being born with a rare form of dwarfism. The BBC show won 3ft 11in Jazz and her family fans from all over the world.
She was even able to publish her autobiography in 2013. After the cameras stopped rolling, Jazz met and found love with partner Lewis Burke. Since 2021, the couple had been living in a tent in woodland after telling of their struggles to get a suitable council property.
The couple had also started a blog to keep fans in the loop about their progress. Breaking the news of Jazz’s death on their Facebook blog, a devastated Lewis wrote: “She is the most incredible human that ever walked this planet, she is the strongest, funniest, most kindest and purely decent person I’ve ever known.
“I am truly devastated. She changed my life forever and I’ll never be the same.”
Finishing his post, Lewis asked fans for privacy but said he would be organising a memorial event in Jazz’ memory in the future.
Last year, the couple told of their life living in a bell tent with their dog Loki in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire after unable to secure a council home. Both had a passion for camping and had decided to live out in nature full time.
Speaking to North Wales Live last October, Lewis said: “Living outside amongst nature is really good for my mental health as it is for Jazz, we both suffer from different mental health problems but hearing the dawn chorus and seeing nature really helps us both.”
Jazz added: “I think tent life has saved us and made us. Of course there are downsides as I am a bit more vulnerable with my health history.
“Some of the days over the summer living next to a river are some of the happiest I’ve ever spent. I like being away from people quite a lot and just being amongst nature.”
More recently, the couple had bought a touring caravan and were working hard on renovating it to live in. They’d also launched a fundraising appeal to buy a plot of land in the hopes of one day establishing their own off-grid farm.