Australian model and swimwear designer Sahara Ray has died at 34, her family has confirmed to TMZ.
“She passed away last night surrounded by family at the hospital. She was so loved,” her relatives told the outlet.
Her cause of death has not been confirmed.
Ray built a public profile through modeling and social media, attracting a substantial following on Instagram before launching her own swimwear label, Sahara Ray Swim.
She gained widespread attention in 2016 after being photographed vacationing in Hawaii with Justin Bieber, sparking headlines about a possible relationship between the pair. Ray was also previously romantically linked to Australian singer Cody Simpson.
Beyond her high-profile associations, Ray developed her own career in fashion and swimwear. She was the daughter of legendary Australian surfer Tony Ray and spent much of her childhood traveling between Australia, California and Hawaii.
In 2024, Ray spoke publicly about her experience with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can affect the nerves and cause muscle weakness or paralysis.
She said the condition had left her partially paralyzed following a serious car accident. Her previous health struggles have drawn renewed attention following news of her death, although no connection between the condition and her death has been established.
Ray’s family has not publicly confirmed a cause of death, and further details about the circumstances surrounding her passing remain unavailable.
Her death marks the loss of a model and entrepreneur whose career spanned fashion, swimwear and social media, as well as a public life that occasionally intersected with high-profile entertainment figures.
She was 34.
