(Dec. 17) -- The finale of Lifetime's reality series 'Blush: The Search for the Next Great Makeup Artist' was marred by tragedy, as one of the three finalists was found dead on Saturday. Todd Homme, 23, died in his sleep in his Manhattan apartment; the cause of death is still unknown.
Homme's mother told Newsday, "They don't know what happened to him. He was at the height of life. It's very hard. Very, very hard."
he added, "His real passion in life was to help people. [If he had won,] he said he'd give some [money] to 'my momma' and work with underprivileged kids. He loved life and he loved people. He did not have a flaw."
'Blush' is a reality competition in which the winner is awarded a $100,000 check and a contract with Max Factor. For the duration of the show, contestants live together in a camera-filled Los Angeles home. The finale was taped a month ago, and Homme knew he did not win.
Homme's partner, Neal Krogh, told Newsday that they were planning to relocate to Los Angeles next month. "He was happy and exuberant and his usual full-of-life self and excited about the move," said Krogh.
Todd Homme's cast profile on the official 'Blush' website reads, "Todd is poised and focused, and allows the love of his art to show in all his work. " He appeared in the season one finale, which aired last night.