Cher Maximen

A WOMAN who died after being stabbed in front of her three year-old daughter at the Notting Hill Carnival was “brilliant, brave, bold and fearless” and a “dedicated mother”, family and friends said this week.

Cher Maximen, who grew up and lived in Camden, was an “innocent by­stander” who got caught-up in the “senseless violence” on the annual celebration’s family-friendly Sunday.

A former Parliament Hill School pupil, the 32-year-old died on Saturday in St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington from her injures.

She was a qualified nail technician and developed a keen interest in fashion after taking a course at the Thanet Community Centre in Queen’s Crescent.

A close family member told the New Journal this week: “The carnival ­rep­resented everything loved about life, diversity, music, joy, laughter, dance, fierce fashion. “Sharing her love of life with her daughter wouldn’t have been unusual for Cher and had she thought for a second that it would of ended the way that it did she wouldn’t of considered putting her in harm’s way – or allowing her to witness or be present to something so life-changing.”

With her friend Eucalypta

The close relative added: “As a mother Cher was incredibly attentive, very committed and excited to introduce her daughter to all of the things she felt would contribute to her developing into a happy and healthy informed and confident person.”

Describing Cher’s personality, they added: “She was brilliant, brave, bold and fearless – but she was also soft and kind and caring. A loyal and reliable friend and a dedicated mother. She was super unique. She had the biggest smile in the room. She was really courageous, just so full of life and warm. She would talk to actually anyone about actually anything at any time.

“She was working in fashion and in beauty. She was a qualified nail technician who had gone on several courses. Her interest really piqued after she took the course at the Thanet. And she continued on her interest.

“She was just super creative, that was her personality. She loved dancing, presenting, hosting, designing – she had a real creative flair. And she had lots of friends.”

Another close friend Eucalypta paid tribute this week, telling the New Journal: “I’ll always cherish my memories with Cher. She is, I can’t bring myself to say was, a fun-filled force of nature. We have always been very supportive of one another throughout our lives, whether that be through work, entrepreneurship, relationships, creativity, fitness – or just going out and having an absolutely fabulous ball.”

Cher loved the spirit of Carnival

She said the pair of friends were very in tune with “the arts and positive healing vibes”, adding: “I’d never stop laughing being around Cher. She was always kind to people. She was someone you would never forget. She would literally be singing and dancing in the street. She was a natural born entertainer whose beauty will continue to shine on through her daughter.”

She added: “I’m not only going to miss her advice and wisdom as it echoes in my mind but her humour and her grace. She was a character hard to find.”

Commander Charmain Brenyah, the Met Police’s spokesperson for Notting Hill Carnival, said Ms Maximen had come to the festival to “have fun… and was caught up in the most awful violence”.