Australian model Sahara Ray has died at the age of 34, her family has confirmed. The heartbreaking news comes just months after the model announced she had given birth to her first child.
Sahara Ray’s family confirmed the tragic passing to TMZ. The Australian model and swimwear designer made headlines years ago for her rumored relationship with Justin Bieber.
“She passed away last night surrounded by family at the hospital. She was so loved,” her family told TMZ.
Ray Sahara gave birth to a daughter, Snow, in January 2026. She was well known for her modeling work and social media presence, where she gained a huge following. She also launched her own swimwear brand, Sahara Ray Swim.
An official cause of death has not been reported. However, Ray had been open about her health challenges, including in 2024 when she revealed that she had developed Guillain-Barré syndrome.
“I honestly don’t even know how to start this video, I’m so overwhelmed with what’s going on with me,” Ray said in a TikTok in 2024. “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.”
The model added that she was “primarily in a wheelchair” and could “barely walk,” after she was hit by a drunk driver the same year.
Model Sahara Ray dies at 34 months after giving birth to baby girl
“It basically sent my body into shock, which sent my body into this crazy sickness, and I got really, really sick for a week-and-a-half to two weeks,” Ray added.
Speaking to the NY Post, Dr. David Langer, the chair of neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, explained that Guillain-Barré syndrome is “basically a neurological illness that involves the peripheral nerves in the body,” with the nerves being covered in a sheath of myelin.
Dr. Langer further explained that the diagnosis is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself. Per Live Science, antibodies normally help fight foreign invaders, such as viruses.
“Myelin is like an insulator for an electric cable. If you don’t have insulation on your wires, the electricity doesn’t pass through, so the insulation basically allows nerves to conduct very quickly,” he added. “The myelin gets degraded and your nerves can’t transmit as easily, so you start slowing down in whatever muscle areas that are fed by these nerves.”
One famous person who was also diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome was the late Andy Griffith.
Rest in peace, Sahara Ray. Our thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones.
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