Shirley Raines, founder of the nonprofit Beauty 2 The Streetz, was a TikTok star and community activist who provided food, beauty services, hygiene kits, and dignity to homeless people in Los Angeles’ Skid Row and beyond; she died at age 58 on January 27, 2026.
Early Life and Background
Born on December 29, 1967, in Compton, California, Raines worked for 26 years as a medical biller while raising six children and later becoming a grandmother to three. She had a twin sister named Sheila and drew from her own experiences with hardship, including near-homelessness, traumatic relationships, and the loss of a child, which inspired her activism. Raines managed anxiety and took medication daily but channeled her pain into service, stating, “I’m a broken woman who buried a child… but I’m pushing through my own personal crap to live out my purpose.”
Founding Beauty 2 The Streetz
Raines began helping the homeless in 2017 during a church feeding mission on Skid Row, where her personal style and beautician skills caught attention. She started providing hair coloring, makeup, food (initially 400 meals weekly from her Long Beach apartment), hygiene products, and clothing, funding it personally at first. In 2019, she registered Beauty 2 The Streetz as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, expanding to include volunteers like stylists and barbers; events grew to serve 600+ meals via food trucks offering items like “Wings N’ Waffles” and “Bomb Azz Tacos.”
Her TikTok account @beauty2thestreetz amassed over 5 million followers and 162 million likes by posting volunteer work starting in March 2020. She greeted people as “King” or “Queen,” remembered birthdays, and focused on marginalized groups like transgender individuals.
Achievements and Recognition
- Named CNN Hero of the Year in 2021 for her Skid Row efforts.
- Awarded NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Social Media Personality in 2025.
- Sponsored by brands like The Coldest Water; also supported food-insecure college students at CSULB.
Raines emphasized respect: “Monday through Friday, someone is saying ‘Get out of the way, you bum.’ On Saturday, someone is saying, ‘You’re important. You’re special.’”
Death and Legacy
Found unresponsive in her Henderson, Nevada, home during a wellness check on January 27, 2026, Raines’ passing was announced by Beauty 2 The Streetz on January 28. The organization highlighted her “immeasurable impact” in amplifying underserved voices. Tributes poured in from creators like Alexis Nikole Nelson, calling her “love incarnate,” and collaborators like Melissa Acedera, who noted her trust-building perseverance. Her cause of death remains undisclosed.
