Australian model and swimwear designer Sahara Ray, who was once linked to Justin Bieber, has died at 34, months after welcoming a baby girl.
"She passed away last night surrounded by family at the hospital.
Ray built her career as a model and social media personality before launching her swimwear label, Sahara Ray Swim.
She became a familiar name in celebrity news in 2016 after being photographed with Bieber during a trip to Hawaii.
The daughter of Australian surfing legend Tony Ray, Sahara spent much of her childhood travelling between Australia, California and Hawaii.
Australian model and swimwear designer Sahara Ray, who was once linked to Justin Bieber, has died at 34, months after welcoming a baby girl. Her family confirmed that she died in hospital on October 18, surrounded by loved ones. The cause of her death hasn't been disclosed.
"She passed away last night surrounded by family at the hospital. She was so loved," her family told TMZ.
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The news comes after Ray had spoken publicly about living with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves. She said the disorder left her partially paralysed following a serious car accident. Whether the condition had any connection to her death remains unknown.
Motherhood had recently brought a new chapter to Ray's life. In what is now her last Instagram post, she shared a heartfelt message about her daughter, calling the little girl "My whole heart". The words have taken on a particularly poignant meaning following her death.
Ray largely stayed away from the public eye in recent years. Her last known public appearance was at the Ashton Michael RTW 10-Year Anniversary Show, titled Punk Tsugi, in Los Angeles in November 2023. She attended the event with musician Mod Sun, whose real name is Derek Ryan Smith, and was photographed in a sheer baby pink dress with her hair pulled into a high ponytail.
The pair were also seen together in Malibu in June 2024, when Mod Sun performed for her by the roadside. They were romantically linked, although they kept details of their relationship largely private.
Ray built her career as a model and social media personality before launching her swimwear label, Sahara Ray Swim. She became a familiar name in celebrity news in 2016 after being photographed with Bieber during a trip to Hawaii. Australian singer Cody Simpson was also linked to her.
The daughter of Australian surfing legend Tony Ray, Sahara spent much of her childhood travelling between Australia, California and Hawaii.
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