Cathriona White, who dated Jim Carrey on and off since 2012, was found dead Monday of an apparent suicide at a home in the Los Angeles area.

“I am shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of my sweet Cathriona,” Carrey said in a statement, adding that White, who was 30, “was a truly kind and delicate Irish flower, too sensitive for this soil, to whom loving and being loved was all that sparkled.”

Get push notifications with news, features and more.

But who was the brunette beauty who had been linked to the actor over the course of three years?

White, who reportedly first started dating Carrey in 2012, had been working in the beauty industry as a stylist on several high-profile shoots. Notably, the makeup artist worked with David Hasselhoff as well as Sleepy Hollow star Lyndie Greenwood, whom she styled for an Elle feature shoot and for the Divergent film premiere, as seen in several images posted on her Instagram page.

“Cat was a very nice, sweet, cheerful person to work with,” Brie Childers, a photographer who worked closely with White, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “She was someone who I would look forward to seeing on my shoots. She left a trail behind of smiles, and I hope she will find some peace now.”

White, who hailed from Tipperary, Ireland, also had a penchant for photography. Carrey had posted several of her snapshots on his Twitter, using the scenic pics as a backdrop for the actor’s quotes.

White also regularly updated her Instagram with stunning photos of her surroundings, selfies with clients, behind-the-scenes snaps, as well as candid photos of her adorable niece and nephews in Ireland.

The stylist, who had previously done some film work, also carried on an optimistic outlook, as seen on social media. White’s Instagram bio included the inspiring words “Love, Learn, Laugh a Lot, Be Creative, Be Silly, Be Kind, See the World.”

Her last public message came in the form of a cryptic tweet on Sept. 24, a few days after her birthday. “Signing off Twitter, I hope I have been a light to my nearest and dearest. Peace and love to you all,” she writes.