She once attracted widespread attention because of her rumored romance with Justin Bieber.
However, she also established herself as a successful model and swimwear designer, creating an independent career in the fashion industry.
Now, heartbreaking reports have emerged that Sahara Ray has passed away at just 34 years old.
Australian model and swimwear designer Sahara Ray has died at the age of 34, according to reports from TMZ.
Ray gained widespread recognition through her modeling work and substantial social media following. She also launched her own swimwear brand, Sahara Ray Swim.
Her popularity grew even further in 2016 when photographs showed her spending a vacation in Hawaii with Justin Bieber, prompting speculation that the pair were romantically involved. Before that, she had also been linked to Australian singer Cody Simpson.
Yet Sahara’s life story extended far beyond those headlines.
The daughter of renowned Australian surfer Tony Ray, Sahara spent her childhood between Australia, California, and Hawaii before developing her own career in modeling and fashion.
In 2024, Sahara opened up about a terrifying health struggle. Following a serious car accident, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with a rare neurological condition and had suffered partial paralysis.
According to the Daily Mail, which cited a source close to the model, Sahara experienced a fentanyl overdose on Friday night and was taken to a hospital in the Los Angeles area.
Became a mother just before
Sahara’s passing occurred only a few months after she welcomed her first child.
She announced the birth of her daughter, Snow, in January and subsequently shared pictures of her baby with her followers. Alongside the photos, she wrote, “My whole heart [white love heart emoji]. Baby Snow.”
Her family later confirmed her death to TMZ, sharing the heartbreaking statement, “She passed away last night surrounded by family at the hospital. She was so loved.”
Sahara’s younger sister, Ruby, also posted a heartfelt tribute to her sister on social media.
Ruby shared a series of old photographs featuring the two sisters together, remembering Sahara as someone she had always admired throughout her life.
“My beautiful big sister, Sahara. The most vivacious, intelligent, hilarious, kind, empathetic and breathtakingly beautiful soul. A force of nature. A light so bright that this world feels impossibly dimmer without her in it,” Ruby wrote.
“Sahara has moved from this life into another, and I am left trying to comprehend how someone so full of life can no longer be here to live it.”
Ruby explained that she had looked up to her older sister ever since she could remember.
“From the moment I entered this world, I looked up to her. In my eyes, she was everything extraordinary about being human,” she continued.
“She was magic, warmth, laughter, love. She was, to me, the most incredible person to ever walk this earth.”
Rest in peace, Sahara.