Lynn Yamada Davis, the renowned TikTok personality celebrated for her entertaining and unconventional approach to cooking in the ‘Cooking with Lynja’ series, passed away at the age of 67 on January 1. The cause of her demise was confirmed as esophageal cancer, according to her daughter Hannah Mariko Shofet, at Riverview Medical Center in Holmdel, N.J., where Ms. Davis resided.
The sad news was conveyed by Tim Davis, the youngest son of the late TikTok star and the editor of her videos, in a video shared on the platform. Lynn Yamada Davis, affectionately known as Lynja, gained immense popularity, accumulating over 17 million followers on TikTok for her unique cooking videos that incorporated dancing, playful expressions, and explosive special effects. Her creative content also extended to YouTube, where she had 9.62 million followers, and Instagram, boasting 2.2 million followers.
Despite being older than most social media influencers, Ms. Davis captivated a diverse audience with her wholesome yet whimsical ‘Cooking With Lynja’ series, initiated in 2020 during the pandemic lockdown. The videos, created in collaboration with her son Tim, not only showcased her culinary skills but also provided a source of joy and entertainment for millions.
Tim Davis shared in the announcement video that his mother’s final moments were peaceful, surrounded by loved ones. Unbeknownst to many fans, her TikTok page has been updated posthumously with new videos, as per her request. Recent content includes vlogs from her trip to Italy.
Beyond her culinary prowess, Lynn Yamada Davis, a recipient of two Streamy Awards in 2022 for best food creator and best editing, was passionate about travel, marathon running, and animals. She leaves behind a lasting legacy and is survived by her sons Tim and Sean Davis, daughters Hannah Mariko Shofet and Becky Steinberg, two grandchildren, husband Keith Davis, and siblings Jay Yamada and Karen Dolce Yamada.