Bodybuilder Raechelle Chase was undoubtedly one of the most adored “internet sensations” in the buff category.
The native of New Zealand experienced a remarkable life as a single mother of five going through a difficult divorce, as well as one of the most prominent online fitness influencers who initially gained notoriety at the gym.
Who was Raechelle Chase?
Raechelle Chase was a New Zealand-born bodybuilder, social media celebrity, and fitness influencer.
The mother of five, who was born in 1979, was wed to Chris Chase until their tumultuous 14-year divorce in February 2015.
The celebrity, who was raised in Whangarei, New Zealand, originally intended to teach kindergarten before developing an obsession with going to the gym and working out.
She competed professionally in bodybuilding once it took over her life, and she had a physique that most women would never be able to match.
Her career was put on hiatus for a few years after giving birth to her first three children, but she quickly resumed competing and went on to have a very successful career.
What was Raechelle Chase known for?
Chase gained most of his notoriety as a former bodybuilder and fitness influencer.
Her bodybuilding career began in 2011 when she competed in the Figure Olympia bodybuilding competition in Las Vegas, becoming the first Kiwi woman to do so.
Later on, she gained an incredible 1.4 million Facebook followers, turning her into a “internet sensation”.
She provided lessons and one-on-one sessions to assist her admirers lose weight in addition to sharing photos of her personal fitness journey on social media.
Throughout her career, she was featured on numerous magazine front covers due to her popularity.
After opening up about her experience ending a “toxic and abusive” relationship she had entered after divorcing her husband Chris Chase, she rose to fame in Australia and New Zealand in 2016.
After being detained in 2012 for his involvement in the distribution of a designer drug that resembled ecstasy throughout New Zealand, Chris was sentenced to ten years in prison.
She told Stuff: “The relationship I was in taught me many things about what I don’t want, and what I need to steer very clear off. It wasn’t just me that suffered, it was my entire family.
“So if you know you are in an abusive relationship and you don’t have the courage to leave, do it for your children.
“Grab hold of whatever you need long enough to survive crawling out of that hole because I promise you it will be worth it.”
When did Raechelle Chase die?
Chase passed away in October 2023, although it is still unclear why she died.
She reportedly passed away unexpectedly, and because of this, the New Zealand Coroner is reportedly looking into the tragedy.
“No further information is available at this stage given the recent nature of the death,” a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice in New Zealand stated.
Since her death, the fitness legend has received an abundance of condolences, as she was a highly cherished member of the community.
Her eldest daughter, Anna Chase, said her mum sacrificed so much to give her children an exciting life and managed to achieve every goal she set for herself.
She said: ”She was supportive, kind-hearted and always had the best advice for us. She was a wildly driven woman with ambition and has inspired millions of people around the world.
”I miss her immensely and that love won’t ever fade.”
Keith O’Connell, a friend of Chase’s, said she was one of the “kindest souls” he had known.
“Not going to lie, very few things in my life hit me as hard as your passing… You had so much left to live. So much love to give,” he wrote earlier this month.
“You were, still are, and always will be one of the kindest beautiful souls I will ever have experienced.”
