Sha’Vi Lewis, Former “Project Runway” Contestant and CAU Alum, Passes Away at 39

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Sha’Vi Lewis (3rd from left), a Clark Atlanta alum who appeared on season 18 of Bravo’s Project Runway, has passed away at the age of 39.

As reported by TMZ, the fashion designer died on Monday, February 24. The cause of death is not known at press time.

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Sha’Vi’s sister, Akira, said in a statement to TMZ, “We are in a state of disbelief as we come to the reality that our star has been cast into eternity. As the days move forward we will continue to wrap our minds around a future without your presence. While the world is just catching on to the name Sha’vi, we knew he was and is great! Continue to pray as we mourn the loss of our loved one, Franklin Shavi Lewis Frierson Jr.”

Born Franklin Shavi Lewis Frierson Jr., the New Jersey native developed his passion for fashion early on, taking classes at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology while still in high school. He later attended Clark Atlanta University.

Lewis would go on to have a lucrative career following his 10th-place finish on Project Runway in 2019. He served as the creative director for menswear company Stephen F and designed for season 2 of FX’s Pose.

Fellow contestants Brittany Allen and Nancy Volpe Beringer paid tribute to the designer on Instagram.

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A post shared by Brittany Allen (@brittanyallen.atx)

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A post shared by Nancy Volpe Beringer (@nancyvolpeberinger)

Lewis leaves behind his parents, Joyce Solomon-Frierson and Franklin Frierson, brother Troy Solomon Frierson, and sisters Akira Frierson Wood and Destiny L. Owens.