27-year-old celebrity hairstylist Zahrie “Z Money” Walls was living her best life Saturday (June 22) aboard a yacht during Chicago’s Black Yacht Weekend. Hours later, she was gone.
What was supposed to be a sun-soaked Saturday full of Black joy and yacht party vibes on Lake Michigan has turned into a citywide heartbreak. Celebrity hairstylist Zahrie “Z Money” Walls, a beloved figure in Chicago’s beauty scene, has tragically passed away after falling off a yacht during Black Yacht Weekend.
On June 21, Z Money joined friends on a spontaneous boat outing to celebrate life and let loose. Just hours before her untimely death, she shared videos on Instagram smiling, dancing in a bikini, and glowing in the sun while vibing on the front of the yacht.
The footage showed her living a carefree and radiant life. But it would be her last post.
At some point during the trip near Navy Pier, Zahrie fell into Lake Michigan. No life jacket. No harness. The exact details are still under investigation, but video from the event shows the yacht becoming overwhelmed with passengers and eventually taking on water at the stern. Chaos erupted as nearby boats scrambled to assist. By the time rescue crews located Zahrie, it was too late.
She was pulled from the water around 5:30 p.m. and rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She was pronounced dead shortly after.
Zahrie’s death has sent shockwaves across Chicago and Black Twitter alike, not just because of her influence in the glam scene but because of how quickly it all unfolded.
Her mother, Kizzy Wells, spoke to the Chicago Tribune, revealing that her daughter didn’t even plan to go out that day. “It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing,” she said. “She was on a boat and allegedly fell off due to the current. My baby works so hard. She was doing 10 to 12 hair appointments a day.”
According to Wells, Z Money was still grieving the loss of her best friend from seven years ago, a tragedy she never fully healed from. And now, her family is left to grieve all over again.
While Chicago police have confirmed they’re investigating the incident, organizers of Black Yacht Weekend were quick to release a statement distancing themselves, saying the accident “has not been officially linked to any of our attendees” and did not happen within the designated event space. Still, they urged future participants to prioritize safety, including wearing life jackets and adhering to boat capacity limits
A vigil was held Sunday night, June 22, in Zahrie’s honor, with hundreds showing up to pay respects, share memories, and grieve together. Details about her memorial service will be shared by the family in the coming days.
