Fashion Influencer Ayşegül Eraslan Found Dead at 27 as Mystery Surrounds Final Days

17 March 2026

The fashion world has been left shaken by the sudden and tragic death of Turkish influencer Ayşegül Eraslan, who was found dead at the age of 27 inside her Istanbul home. Known for her striking style, global travels and growing digital presence, Eraslan’s passing has sparked both grief among her followers and an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding her final hours.

Eraslan, who had built a strong online following of more than 360,000 on Instagram, was discovered in her apartment in the Kağıthane district of Istanbul on March 13 after relatives became concerned when they were unable to reach her. When repeated attempts to contact her failed, family members alerted authorities, who entered the residence and found her unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and her body was later transferred for forensic examination.

In the days leading up to her death, Eraslan had been active on social media, sharing glimpses of her life that gave little indication of what was to come. Her final post, uploaded on March 12, featured images and videos from what appeared to be a recent trip to Los Angeles. For many followers, the cheerful and aspirational tone of her content made the news of her passing even more difficult to process.

Behind the polished images, however, there were signs that her life may have been more complex. Reports indicate that Eraslan had shared a series of emotional and cryptic messages in the hours before her death, reflecting on personal struggles and experiences she had not previously spoken about publicly. These posts added a layer of mystery and concern, prompting both fans and investigators to question what may have been happening in her private life.

Authorities have described her death as suspicious and have launched a full investigation. Surveillance footage reviewed by police reportedly showed actor Sunay Kurtuluş entering her apartment roughly an hour before her estimated time of death and leaving shortly afterward. He was questioned as part of the investigation and later released after providing a statement, with his legal team maintaining that he was not present at the time the incident occurred.

As investigators continue their work, the exact cause of Eraslan’s death has not yet been confirmed. Forensic analysis is expected to provide more clarity, but for now, the unanswered questions have only deepened the sense of unease surrounding the case.

Before her rise as an influencer, Eraslan first gained public attention through the popular Turkish fashion competition show İşte Benim Stilim, which translates to This Is My Style. Her appearance on the show helped launch her career in fashion, eventually leading her to build a personal brand centered around style, travel and design. Over time she developed a loyal following that admired her aesthetic and creative expression.

Beyond social media, she was also involved in the fashion industry as a designer, running her own atelier and showcasing her work at events such as Fashion Week Türkiye. Her career reflected a blend of creativity and ambition, positioning her as a rising figure in the fashion space.

Following the news of her death, fans flooded her social media pages with messages of shock, sadness and disbelief. Many expressed how deeply they were affected by the loss of someone they had followed closely, while others reflected on the contrast between her vibrant online presence and the tragic reality of her passing.

Eraslan’s death has also reignited conversations about the pressures of maintaining a public image in the digital age. Influencers often share carefully curated moments of their lives, leaving much of their personal struggles hidden from view. In cases like this, the gap between perception and reality becomes painfully visible.

As the investigation continues, Ayşegül Eraslan is being remembered not only for her work in fashion but also for the impact she had on her audience. Her story, marked by both creativity and unanswered questions, leaves behind a legacy that is as poignant as it is incomplete.