Australian model and swimwear designer Sahara Ray has died at 34, months after welcoming her daughter, Snow, as her family mourns her death.
The Independent reported that Ray’s family confirmed her death in a statement to TMZ on Monday, saying she died in a hospital surrounded by relatives. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
In a separate statement to the Daily Mail, quoted by The Independent, Ray’s mother, Gretchen Bach, described her daughter as a passionate and kind woman who loved her family, fashion, surfing and her baby.
“We’re feeling the love that is pouring in from her cherished friends, fans and the many communities that she was part of around the world,” Bach said.
Ray built a following of more than 900,000 people on Instagram and founded her swimwear label, Sahara Ray Swim. She came into the public spotlight in 2016 after being photographed in Hawaii with Canadian singer Justin Bieber. She was also previously linked to Australian singer Cody Simpson.
Ray gave birth to Snow on January 27, 2026, and shared news of the arrival on Instagram, describing the child as a miracle. Her last post, published in July, featured three photographs of her daughter with the caption, “My whole heart”.
In 2024, Ray revealed that she had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome following a car accident. In a since-deleted social media post, she described paralysis from her upper thighs down to her feet and said she relied on a wheelchair and walker.
Her sister, Ruby, also paid tribute to her on social media, describing Ray as vivacious, intelligent, humorous, kind and empathetic.
