Rihanna shares touching tribute to a super fan who lost her battle with cancer

Rihanna has paid tribute to a fan who lost her battle with cancer.

The ‘Diamonds’ hitmaker admitted she was “heartbroken” as she remembered Monia, one of her Rihanna Navy – the name she collectively calls her fans – who passed away over the Christmas period after battling cancer three times.

She wrote on Instagram: “Navy Angels! This Christmas, we lost a beautiful spirit who was such a pillar of strength to us! Most of our friendship she’s spent in a hospital or doctor’s office! This picture was just a few months ago, she looked at me and said ‘Rih the cancer is back’ I’ll never forget the fear in her eyes this day! Still, she pushed forward, fighting the fight every day with the Navy behind her supporting her every step of the way! We are all heartbroken about this!!! You will never be forgotten! Love you my angel @moniasto fly in peace. “

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Navy Angels! This Christmas, we lost a beautiful spirit who was such a pillar of strength to us! Most of our friendship she’s spent in a hospital or doctor’s office! This picture was just a few months ago, she looked at me and said “Rih the cancer is back” I’ll never forget the fear in her eyes this day! Still she pushed forward, fighting the fight everyday with the Navy behind her supporting her every step of the way! We are all heartbroken about this!!! You will never be forgotten! Love you my angel @moniasto fly in peace.

A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Dec 27, 2018 at 3:51am PST

Rihanna also shared pictures she had taken with Monia at the Savage X Fenty Pop-Up in London in June earlier this year. Alongside emojis of a broken heart and angel wings, she wrote: “miss you already sis @moniasto (sic)”

Rihanna had been supporting Monia through her cancer battle, regularly writing posts of support on Instagram.

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I haven’t posted in a while because there was so much going on.. so much pain, so many bad news, just too much. and right in the worst time, she‘s there for me. this made my day. thank you robyn, for being so real and supportive. and thanks to everyone else who is supportive in any way, every comment, every dm, every prayer – I appreciate it so much 🙏🏼 tomorrow morning is my next mrt scan, because my left eye is hurting a lot and they gotta make sure I don’t have a new tumor in my brain or something. I‘ll keep you updated. love you x

A post shared by MONIA 👩🏻‍🦲✨ (@moniasto) on Dec 4, 2018 at 12:09pm PST