Tragic Loss: Chicago Stylist Zahrie Walls Remembered with Tribute Tattoos, Drowns in Lake Michigan Nearly a Decade After Kenneka Jenkins' Hotel Death

A talented hairstylist and cherished figure in Chicago's beauty industry tragically passed away on Saturday after a fall from a yacht into Lake Michigan. This loss compounds the heartbreak for her mother, who recalls her daughter never fully rebounding from the demise of her best friend seven years prior. Zahrie Walls, 27, who was known professionally as “Z Money,” was retrieved from the water near Navy Pier around 5:30 p.m. and transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where she was declared dead. Earlier, she shared videos of herself enjoying the sunshine on the yacht during the annual “Black Yacht Weekend.” Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the drowning but have yet to reveal specifics. Eyewitness videos depicted Walls joyfully lounging on the boat's bow moments before it began taking on water. Meanwhile, her mother, Kizzy Wells, expressed her confusion regarding how this unfortunate event transpired. Walls, beloved for her work at Z Style Suites and an active social media presence, had a demonstrated passion for styling hair from a young age.