30-year-old model Elly Mayday has died after a five-year battle with ovarian cancer

30-year-old model Elly Mayday has died after a five-year battle with ovarian cancer.

Ashley Shandrel Luther, who modelled under the name Elly Mayday, lost her battle with ovarian cancer on Friday March 1. Originally diagnosed in 2013, Elly fought stage three ovarian cancer and although chemotherapy initially had positive results, Elly suffered a relapse in 2017. Elly also underwent a hysterectomy and after the surgery, she often displayed the scars on her stomach as part of her modelling career, encouraging body positivity and receiving a huge fan following as a result. Shortly after her diagnosis, the Canadian native received two modelling contracts and kept in touch with her followers through regular posts on her treatment and how it impacted on her body. On Friday, her family released a statement via Elly's Instagram account confirming that she had passed away.

"Elly Mayday’s given name was Ashley Shandrel Luther. She was born on April 15, 1988 in Saskatchewan, Canada. Ashley was deeply loved by her family in Canada and in Germany. Ashley was a country girl at heart who had a passion for life that was undeniable. She dreamed of making an impact on people’s lives. She achieved this through the creation of Elly Mayday which allowed her to connect with all of you. Her constant support and love from her followers held a special place in her heart. Ashely passed away on Friday, March 1st at 5:14pm. You all inspired Ashley and we hope she did the same for you. Feel free to share your positive thoughts and memories below. Love and light, Ashely’s loving family".

Ovarian cancer has previously been described as a 'silent killer' because many of the symptoms can be mistaken for other illnesses. In many cases, it is not diagnosed until the advanced stages because the signs often go unnoticed and overlooked. The Irish Cancer Society previously released information on the BEAT symptoms of ovarian cancer, which are outlined below.

• Bloating that is persistent and doesn’t come and go
• Eating less and feeling full more quickly
• Abdominal and pelvic pain you feel most days
• Talk to your GP about your symptoms