A vegan raw food influencer has died of starvation and exhaustion in Malaysia after eating only durians and jackfruit.

Russian national Zhanna Samsonova, 39, from Kazan, died in Malaysia after finally seeking medical treatment during a tour of south-eastern Asia, according to Russian media.

Russian media, quoting her friends, reported how Zhanna – known as Zhanna D’Art to her social media followers – died from her heavily restricted diet.

One reportedly said: “A few months ago, in Sri Lanka, she already looked exhausted, with swollen legs oozing lymph.

“They sent her home to seek treatment. However, she ran away again. When I saw her in Phuket, I was horrified.

“I lived one floor above her and every day I feared finding her lifeless body in the morning. I convinced her to seek treatment, but she didn’t make it.”

Zhanna was an active promoter of a raw food vegan and had spent years reportedly eating only fruit, sunflower seeds and juice.

She had previously said: “I eat simple food, although I have a lot of experience as a raw food chef. I love creating my own recipes and inspiring people to eat healthier.

“For the last four years, my diet has been only fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, fruit smoothies and juices.

” I only got to this level after five years on a completely raw vegan diet.

“I see my body and mind transform every day. I love my new me, and never move on to the habits that I used to use.”

She also reportedly once said: “I feel very sad when I see most of my peers. Because of junk food, they look much older than their age.”

After her death, one follower reportedly said: “She ate only durian and jackfruit for seven years.

“You don’t need to be a doctor to understand where this will lead.”

Her devotees claim that she could have been killed by chemicals in the fruit she ate.

But one friend said: “Zhanna’s idle stagnation was causing her to melt before our eyes, but she believed everything was fine.

“Only her eyes, merry eyes, and gorgeous hair compensated for the dreadful sight of a body tortured by idiocy. Forgive me if it sounds harsh.”

Zhanna’s family is waiting for a medical report and a death certificate to show her official cause of death.

But her mother Vera Samsonova told local media she had died on 21st July after catching a “cholera-like infection” just hours before she was due to fly home.

Durian is a tropical fruit, known for its strong smell and flavour.

It has spiky skin and a creamy, custard-like texture on the inside and is considered a delicacy by fans.

Jackfruit is a tropical sweet-tasting plant from South Asia now popular with Western dieters and is often cooked in curries and stews.