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Apollonia Kotero is also mourning the death of Denise “Vanity” Matthews. The two were protégés of Prince and had become friends, despite Apollonia replacing Vanity as the head of his girl group. Prince dedicated his Australian show to Matthews and Apollonia issued a statement and posted her heartbreak on Twitter.

“With a heavy heart I write this. Today marked the end of an era for me. My friend, Denise ‘Vanity’ Matthews, has died,” Apollonia said in a statement.

“A truly sad day for all of us who have been a part of the Prince Family. Vanity was an inspiration for me and for all the ladies of the Family who followed,” added the star of Prince’s 1984 film Purple Rain and lead singer of Apollonia 6.

“My only solace is that Denise is at peace, no longer in pain, and in the Hands of God. Rest in Bliss, Princess.”

 

Denise Katrina Matthews died in a Fremont, Calif., hospital on Monday after suffering kidney failure and having recently battled abdominal illness.

Apollonia scored the lead role in Purple Rain when Matthews resigned from the band Vanity 6 — which was then remained Apollonia 6 for the film. Apollonia left Prince’s camp in 1985 to appear on the CBS nighttime soap Falcon Crest, playing the girlfriend of Lorenzo Lamas‘ character.

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