Cayman Islands entrepreneur and reality television personality Cass Lacelle has died at the age of 34 following a short but aggressive battle with ovarian cancer.
Lacelle, who appeared in the 2024 series Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise, passed away on 11 Feb. She first revealed in May 2025 that she had been diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer. She underwent emergency surgery to remove a tumour in her left ovary and later completed three rounds of chemotherapy.
In October, she shared an update marking the end of treatment, thanking her medical team at Health City Cayman Islands. Following that announcement, Lacelle gathered her friends to mark the milestone, hosting what they described as a ‘cancer free’ party.
It was a moment of relief and celebration after months of uncertainty. But the reprieve was brief. “It was only two weeks later we were back in Miami,” said her close friend, Meg Chandler.
On 4 Jan., Lacelle disclosed that the cancer had returned and had metastasised to her liver, stomach, abdominal lining and omentum.
“My cancer is back and this time around is aggressive,” she wrote in a post on Instagram, explaining that she had been hospitalised since early December and had begun a new chemotherapy regimen. She acknowledged the severity of her condition while thanking supporters for their messages, prayers and encouragement.
“I see and feel all of your messages. … please know how much I appreciate your love,” she wrote.
In her final weeks, Lacelle was cared for at Baptist Health in Miami under the supervision of Dr. John Diaz. Prior to that, she had been treated by Dr. Vineetha Binoy at Health City.
Her four closest friends, Meg Chandler, Bianca Mora, Ella Rahmani and Kylie Nicholls, remained by her side throughout her treatment.
Friends say her presence left a lasting impression, not only on those closest to her, but also on her medical team in Miami.
“Even in her darkest moments, she kept her infectious spirit,” Chandler said. “The nurses here in Miami would be constantly checking in even on their days off when they knew she had scans or had a difficult day.”
Dr. Diaz also reflected on caring for her. “Cass was truly special and it was an honour to care for her,” he said.
On 16 Feb., her friends confirmed her passing in a statement shared on her social media page.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the news that our beloved Cass has passed after her short but incredibly courageous battle with cancer,” the statement read. “Cass leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured. … In just 34 years, she made an extraordinary impact on everyone who crossed her path.”
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Lacelle moved to the Cayman Islands in 2016. Friends described Cayman as her chosen home, where she built both her professional career and a close-knit community.
She founded Electric Media Group, a marketing and branding agency that worked with local businesses and charitable organisations. The company described itself as “an elegantly bold marketing agency” made up of creators, photographers, designers and dreamers.
Lacelle was known for using her platform and professional expertise to support community causes.
“Cass ran a very successful marketing agency that helped promote not only local businesses, but highlighted charities as well,” said Z99 Morning Show host Teri Lynne Bilewitch.
“She was passionate about giving back to the island and its people, both personally and professionally. She often volunteered both her time and her business expertise to impactful causes. Cass was a respected business owner who leveraged her success for the greater good.”
Lacelle also served on the board of Autism Acceptance, where she led the events and fundraising committee. She was a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters – now called one2one – programme and maintained a close relationship with her Little. Over the years, she organised and supported numerous fundraising events, including galas for the Heart Foundation, and helped raise more than $1 million for community initiatives across the island.
Her friends described her as someone who brought people together and approached life with energy and intention.
“To the girl who brought everyone together, you have no idea how deeply you touched all of our lives,” Chandler wrote in a message to the Compass on behalf of herself, Mora, Rahmani and Nicholls. “You were the foundation of so many friendships, the light in every room. Cass, you will always be one of life’s greatest gifts, someone who wanted the very best for everyone around her and effortlessly saw the good in all.”
Beyond her public profile, friends remembered Lacelle as an avid reader who loved cooking, working out, playing pickleball and travelling. Chandler said her passion for books was unmistakable. “She loved to wear the faerie ears from her love of books,” she said, adding that Lacelle could finish a book in a single day on her Kindle.
She was also known as the planner among her friends, organising group trips and embracing event planning with particular enthusiasm, something she had hoped to expand further within her business.
“Her biggest passion was planning events,” said Chandler, adding that discussions are underway to establish a foundation in Lacelle’s name to continue her charitable work. “She always wanted to help others.”
‘Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise’, which aired in 2024 after moving from Hulu to Freeform, followed the lives, ambitions and relationships of a group of individuals living in the Cayman Islands across 10 episodes.
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