Sahara Ray, an Australian model who was in the past linked to pop stars like Justin Bieber and Cody Simpson, has died.
Videos by Wide Open Country
"She passed away last night, surrounded by family at the hospital. She was so loved," Ray's family told TMZ on Oct. 19. The 34-year-old's cause of death hasn't been revealed.
The model's passing came just months after the birth of her first baby, a daughter named Snow, earlier this year. A TikTok video she shared on Jan. 28 seemed to confirm Snow was born the day before.
Ray's final post on Instagram before her death was a tribute to her baby daughter. "My whole heart. Baby Snow," she wrote alongside a series of shots of the adorable infant in the July 19 post.
The model, who is the daughter of surfing icon Tony Ray, caught the attention of Justin Bieber fans a decade ago. She was spotted with the singer on a Hawaii getaway circa 2016, according to PEOPLE, which also linked her to Australian singer Cody Simpson. In 2023, Ray was linked to rapper and singer Mod Sun.
Model Sahara Ray Shared a Devastating Health Diagnosis in 2024
In May of 2024, Ray shared that she had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. It's "a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves," per the Mayo Clinic. The condition can cause "weakness, numbness, or paralysis." The cause of Guillain-Barré syndrome is unknown.
"I honestly don't even know how to start this video; I'm so overwhelmed with what's going on with me," the model explained in a video back then, per Australian outlet 7 News. "So basically, right now I'm paralyzed from the tops of my upper thighs all the way down to my feet. I can't walk at all."
She added that she was "primarily in a wheelchair and I have a walker."
Meanwhile,. Ray's final Instagram post featuring her baby daughter is filled with shocked comments from her over 900,000 followers.
"Our hearts are shattered. Prayers to your sweet darling baby and family. Forever in our hearts, forever an icon," one top comment reads. "This genuinely breaks my heart," another commenter wrote. "34 years old, with so much life still ahead of her, and a beautiful little girl who deserved so many more years with her mum."
