Nyima, the model son of supermodel Trish Goff, has died at age 27.
Nyima, the only child of ’90s fashion star Goff, 47, and Aaron Ward, died on May 29. The cause of death is currently unknown.
An emotional online tribute to Nyima praised the model who “lived fiercely and loved deeply.”
It read: “Nyima Lee Ward of Ocala, Florida, came into this world on January 2, 1997 destined to live life on her own terms,” the obituary said.
”He left on May 29, 2024 after having lived fiercely, loved deeply, and created memories with the kind of fervor that only a young man who had never met a stranger could have.
Nyima, the model son of supermodel Trish Goff, died at 27
Nyima is the only child of ’90s fashion star Goff and Aaron Ward (Goff pictured in 1996)
‘Nyima was born in New York City. In Tibetan, Nyima means “the Sun.” There is no doubt that when he was born, he was the sun for the entire system of his parents, Aaron Ward and Trish Goff. There he remained throughout his life.
‘With her family spread around the world (from New York to New Zealand, London to Florida), Nyima couldn’t see them all every day. She was able to see everyone for long and meaningful periods. And that suited him very well. What she longed for were deep, present connections.
‘He was a child of the world, who traveled a lot, who became a man of the land, fell in love with agriculture and animals and pursued his dreams from California to Florida.
‘It wouldn’t have been strange to find Nyima with a stray animal she had saved on the side of the road or to call her mother to ask about animal care tips.
‘He loved the water, always choosing boots and jeans for a day on the boat and opting to go out whenever he had the chance.
‘The only thing in life that matched his height was his love for his friends and family, he never missed an opportunity to tell his people he loved them or make sure he had kept in touch with his people.
An emotional online tribute to Nyima praised the model who “lived fiercely and loved deeply.” She said: “Nyima Lee Ward of Ocala, Florida, came into this world on January 2, 1997 destined to live her life her way,” the obituary, “she left him on May 29, 2024.” .
Goff is pictured with her son in 2015, before her Anna Sui runway debut.
Nyima memorably walked for designers such as Anna Sui, 23 years after her mother made her runway debut for designer, John Varvatos and Kye, with her flowing dark locks and chiseled features turning heads on the catwalk.
Friends and family got diamond tattoos to match Nyima’s tattoo at her funeral.
Nyima is survived by her parents Trish and Aaron, stepfather David Bonnouvrier, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Nyima started modeling at 18 years old. After his parents separated, Goff began dating DNA Models owner Bonnouvrier, and the couple encouraged him to sign with the agency.
He told W magazine in 2015: “They’ve been trying to get me to sign forever and I was always like, ‘No, no.'” And then I turned 18 and thought, “I might as well try.”
Nyima memorably walked for designers such as Anna Sui, 23 years after her mother made her runway debut for designer John Varvatos and Kye, with her flowing dark locks and chiseled features turning heads on the catwalk.
He also shot high fashion editorials with iconic fashion photographers such as Bruce Weber and Steven Meisel.
Despite his successes, Nyima said that “I would honestly consider myself more of a carpenter than a model.”
‘When people ask me what I do, I almost forget to even mention it. But I guess I’m a model. (Though) I definitely don’t picture myself in my brain as a model. I imagine myself more as a nine to five person. That’s what I do most usually.
“It’s less of a career and more of a secondary thing. I know a lot of people in the industry, so a lot of times I find people that I knew when I was a kid and they’re like, ‘Oh, can I shoot you?’
‘Or something like that. Or my agents say, ‘Oh, it would be great if you did that.’ And maybe too. I don’t really see it as a long-term career, definitely not.”
Goff was discovered by a modeling agent when she was 15 and dropped out of school to move to New York and pursue a career in high fashion. She appeared on multiple Vogue covers and in campaigns for Banana Republic, Chanel, Chloé and Christian Dior (pictured in 2000).
Goff was discovered by a modeling agent when she was 15 and dropped out of school to move to New York and pursue a career in high fashion.
She appeared on multiple Vogue covers and in campaigns for Banana Republic, Chanel, Chloé, Christian Dior, Gap, Pollini, Ann Taylor, Louis Vuitton, Versace and YSL.
She later moved to London with her then-husband Angus Munro before retraining as a real estate agent in New York.
He now lives in Kenya with Bonnouvrier and works for a wildlife conservatory.