Australian model and swimwear designer Sahara Ray has died at the age of 34.
According to Page Six, Ray died on 18 October in a hospital, surrounded by her family, according to a statement from her relatives. Her cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
The model had become a familiar name in entertainment news through her work in fashion and her reported romantic association with pop singer Justin Bieber. She also built a following on social media by sharing modelling photographs and glimpses of her personal life.
Ray had welcomed a daughter, Snow, just months before her death. In her final Instagram post, published on 19 July, she shared photographs of her baby girl and described her as “My whole heart”.
Ray had previously spoken about her battle with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can cause muscle weakness and paralysis. She said the condition developed after a serious accident involving a truck. It remains unclear whether the illness had any connection to her death.
The daughter of Australian surfing figure Tony Ray, she grew up between Australia, California and Hawaii. She later launched her swimwear brand, Sahara Ray Swim, and developed a career as a model and social media personality.
Ray attracted widespread attention in 2016 after photographs of her with Bieber during a trip to Hawaii circulated online. She was also linked to Australian singer Cody Simpson.
