Sahara Ray dead at 34: Australian model once linked to Justin Bieber dies months after welcoming first child

Australian model Sahara Ray, who rose to fame during her relationship with Justin Bieber, has died suddenly aged just 34.

Her devastated family confirmed her death in a statement to TMZ, revealing she died in hospital.

“She passed away last night surrounded by family at the hospital. She was so loved,” her family said.

A cause of death has not been disclosed.

Ray, a swimwear designer and daughter of well-known Australian surfer Tony Ray, had welcomed her first child earlier this year.

In 2024, the Melbourne-born woman opened up about her health struggles, revealing she was suffering from Guillain-Barre syndrome — a condition where the immune system attacks the nerves.

Ray said the condition essentially paralysed her from the upper thighs down to her feet and she relied on a wheelchair or walker to get around.

She said the condition was brought on when a drunk driver hit her in April of that year, sending her body into “shock”. She later began to feel numbness in her feet which progressed to her legs.

“It basically sent my body into shock, which sent my body into this crazy sickness,” she said in 2024.

“I got really, really sick for like a week and a half to two weeks. During that time, I barely ate any food because I couldn’t keep it down, and my body got really weak.

She eventually gained strength back in her legs and videos posted just months before her death show she no longer required assistance to walk.

In 2016, Ray had a short fling with US singer Justin Bieber and was famously caught by the paparazzi enjoying a skinny dipping session with him in Hawaii.

She was also linked to Australian singer Cody Simpson in 2015.