Caitlyn Jenner has been left heartbroken after the passing of her beloved mother Esther Jenner, who died weeks shy of her 97th birthday.
The former Olympian - who was previously married to Kris Jenner from 1991 - 2015 - announced her mother's passing in an emotional Instagram post.
Sharing photos of Esther looking radiant on her 95th birthday, Jenner, 73, wrote: "I am heartbroken to announce my mom passed away yesterday morning, peacefully.
"Losing a mother is unique in the sense that she is the only person that loved me my entire life. I will miss her tremendously."
"She was a few weeks shy of 97 and lived a full life. Love you mom," the caption concluded.
Esther gave birth to Caitlyn - born Bruce Jenner - in 1949. In June 2015, Caitlyn announced that she was transitioning - having gender reassignment surgery in 2017. Her mother was always supportive of Caitlyn's transition and said (via The Mirror): "It’s nothing she asked for, it's a condition and it starts in the mother's womb."
She was, however, reportedly not supportive of Kris Jenner, having accused her of being both "hyper controlling" and "an unsuitable spouse choice." Esther also slammed Keeping Up With The Kardashians - the reality TV series that featured Caitlyn, Kris, Kris' children (Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and Rob Kardashian), and Caitlyn and Kris' two daughters Kendall and Kylie.
Esther criticized the show, calling it "plotless" and adding: "I wasn't fond of that program. There was no plot, and why it was such a hit I'll never know. When your child becomes, oh golly, world-famous, it's very difficult for a mother to put them in that category, she's not a celebrity to me, she's my kid."
Many netizens took to the comments section on Caitlyn's Instagram post, sending their condolences to the former athlete.
"I am so sorry for your loss. God bless your mom. Sending you hugs and prayers," former San Francisco prosecuting attorney Kimberly Guilfoyle wrote.
"Caitlyn, I just sent you a text [...] But please know we are sadden by your loss and thankful that heaven is real and knowing her glorious reunion with Bill and Burt is a beautiful reality and praying that comforts your heart in this season of grieving. I will try to come out to a Malibu sooner rather than later. We are praying my friend," humanitarian and influencer Victor Marx added.
Another person chimed in with: "So sorry. I am so happy that you had the honor of having your mom with you for 97 years. Extremely lucky. Having said that, the loss of a mom is so devastating."
Our thoughts go out to Caitlyn Jenner and her family at this difficult time.
