The family and friends of popular Nigerian transgender model, Fola Francis, say they will soon announce date for the memorial of Francis who got drowned on December 20, at IIashe beach in Lagos.

The fashion designer and LGBT activist reportedly drowned at the Lagos beach where the transgender and cross-dresser and a few friends had gone for a timeout ahead of Christmas.

Vincent Desmond, a freelance journalist was said to have announced her passage in a statement on Friday.

“Fola Francis was a beacon of hope and a light to us and a lot of other people. We are deeply hurt by her passing.

“There will be a memorial which will be discussed at a later date, as we her friends and family ask for privacy at this time,” the journalist stated.

Fola, was the first Nigerian transgender to walk the Lagos Fashion Week for Cute-Saint and Fruché.

“There will be a memorial which will be discussed at a later date, and we her family and friends ask for privacy at this time,” the family pleaded.