Baddies Midwest: How did aspirant Reyna Dunlap die? Details explored

Social media influencer Reyna Dunlap, referred to as "The Nude Queen" online, was found dead in a vacant house in the Kinsman neighborhood of Cleveland in January. The 30-year-old Maryland native had been in Ohio for a while to audition for the Zeus Network reality show Baddies Midwest.

Before her untimely death, Dunlap had established a substantial internet following, amassing over 100,000 followers across several platforms.

The circumstances surrounding her passing remain murky. Cleveland police informed the local media that they suspect an overdose, but Dunlap's family strongly refutes this theory. To learn more about Reyna's last days, her mother and sister have started a fundraising drive and have posted an online appeal on social media.

A branch of the Bad Girls Club brand, Baddies Midwest, is renowned for its combative women vying for social media influence and recognition. Developed by reality TV personality Natalie Nunn, the show has a reputation for its dramatic, frequently physical altercations between candidates and travels to several Midwestern communities for casting calls.

Reyna Dunlap’s overdose devastates fans everywhere

Cleveland police confirmed to Cleve Scene that Reyna Dunlap's body was found on Francis Avenue (Kinsman) on January 21. The timing suggests that she had decided to stay in Cleveland after her November audition for the Zeus Network show.

Social media posts insinuate that Reyna Dunlap may have been experiencing mental health challenges during her extended stay in Cleveland. Her activity on X (formerly Twitter) through November and December hint at personal struggles, though specific details remain unclear.

The discovery came as a devastating shock to her substantial online following. With 82,000 followers on X and 17,000 on Instagram, Dunlap had cultivated a dedicated audience who are now trying to search for answers with her family.

While officials initially labeled the death as a suspected overdose, Dunlap's family has publicly challenged this conclusion. A Cleveland police spokesperson told Scene:

"This incident is believed to be an overdose,"

Adding that final determination awaited the medical examiner's findings:

"Depending on that, we can determine what action we need to take."

Dunlap's mother, Karen Jones, firmly rejected this possibility in an interview with 19 News:

"They suspected that it was an overdose. I said my daughter has never used hard drugs, talk to anybody. I will stake my life that the toxicology is going to come back that she did not have any hard drugs in her system."

The family's skepticism has fueled their determination to conduct an independent investigation. Jones mentioned plans for a private autopsy depending on whether they're able to secure sufficient funding.

The most heart-wrenching aspect of this case has been the family's public plea for information. Reyna Dunlap's sister, Kira, posted an emotional video on TikTok seeking anyone who had been in contact with Reyna.

"I'm just looking for anybody who has been in contact with her, or has heard from her in the past month," Kira stated in her video.

Elaborating:

"It's very, very important. Because something bad has happened to her. And we're trying to find out what happened."

In the comments on her post, Kira clarified she was specifically trying to identify who Reyna had been with during her time in Ohio.

The family created a GoFundMe page to cover funeral expenses and hire a private investigator. They hope additional professional resources might uncover details that official channels have missed or overlooked.

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The investigation continues

Reyna Dunlap's journey to Cleveland began with Baddies Midwest, a show that has attracted criticism for its aggressive nature. Producer Natalie Nunn brought casting calls to seven Midwestern cities, drawing aspiring influencers hoping to boost their profiles.

The franchise is notorious for featuring physical confrontations in unusual settings—" on hayrides, in living rooms"—as contestants contend for attention and screen time. For many participants, the potential career advancement outweighs the risks of public embarrassment or conflict.

As the investigation continues, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office will ultimately determine the official cause of death. This process typically includes toxicology screening that will confirm or refute the overdose theory.

Meanwhile, Reyna Dunlap's family plans to hold a memorial service in Maryland. Their pursuit of answers continues through both official channels and their independent efforts.

For Reyna Dunlap's family and followers, the priority now is finding out and understanding the events that took place during her final months in Cleveland. As her mother prepares to challenge the preliminary findings with a private autopsy, and her sister continues to gather information through social media, the full story of The Nude Queen's final chapter remains unwritten.

Whether official determinations will provide closure or only raise more questions is yet to be seen. For now, a grieving family continues their search for truth while planning to celebrate the life of a daughter, sister, and influencer whose journey ended far too soon.

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You can watch Baddies Midwest on the Zeus Network streaming platform.