In the wake of unimaginable loss, Ricki Lake has found a way to keep the spirit of her beloved Malibu home close to her heart — literally. After the devastating 2025 California wildfires reduced her “dream home” to ashes, the actress and former talk show host collaborated with Eterneva to transform charred remnants of the property into a luminous, vivid green diamond necklace rich with symbolism and meaning.
The result is far more than a piece of jewelry. It’s a deeply personal tribute to a place filled with love, memory and connection. The ashes used to create the diamond were carefully gathered by the home’s caretaker, John Bonny, from locations that held profound emotional significance. Among them was the main gate — representing Lake’s welcoming philosophy that “the gates are always open.” Material was also collected from the master bedroom, described as the home’s “power point,” where Lake shared pivotal moments with both her late ex-husband, Christian Evans, and her current husband, Ross Burningham.
Perhaps most poignantly, ashes were taken from a ceremonial circle on the property, near a tree where Evans’ remains had been laid to rest. Each element contributed not only carbon for the diamond’s creation, but also layers of personal narrative — turning science into storytelling.
Eterneva, an Austin-based company specializing in memorial diamonds, worked closely with Lake to design the finished piece. Set in gold and worn as a pendant, the green diamond carries a subtle but meaningful hue, symbolizing renewal and growth. On the reverse side of the setting, Lake added a powerful emblem: a phoenix, the mythical bird that rises anew from its own ashes. Alongside it is the date of the fire, anchoring the piece in a specific moment of loss while also marking the beginning of transformation.
In an emotional Instagram video, Lake described the necklace as “poetic” and “sentimental,” adding, “Having something so beautiful created from something so tragic is such a beautiful lesson in life.” She noted that she will wear the piece “with so much honor and pride and joy,” a testament to resilience in the face of heartbreak.
Long before this deeply personal chapter in her life, the 57-year-old Lake built a remarkable career in entertainment. She first captured audiences as Tracy Turnblad in the cult classic Hairspray, directed by John Waters, and later became a household name as the host of Ricki Lake, one of the defining daytime talk shows of the 1990s. Her work has spanned film, television and documentary production, including advocacy projects focused on women’s health.
Credits: Images via Instagram / rickilake.