Sister breaks her silence after model once linked to Justin Bieber dies at 34

But she also made a name for herself as a successful model and swimwear designer, building a career of her own in the fashion world.

Now, heartbreaking news has emerged that Sahara Ray has died at just 34 years old.

Australian model and swimwear designer Sahara Ray has died at the age of 34, according to TMZ.

Ray became widely known through her modeling career and huge social media following, while also creating her own swimwear label, Sahara Ray Swim.

Her name reached an even bigger audience in 2016 when she was photographed vacationing in Hawaii with Justin Bieber, sparking rumors that the two were romantically involved. She had also previously been linked to Australian singer Cody Simpson.

But there was much more to Sahara’s story.

In 2024, Sahara also spoke publicly about a frightening health battle. She revealed that she had been diagnosed with v, a rare neurological condition, after a serious car accident and had experienced partial paralysis.

According to the Daily Mail, citing a source close to the model, Sahara suffered a fentanyl overdose Friday night and was rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital.

Became a mother just before
Sahara’s death came only months after she became a mother for the first time.

She announced the arrival of her daughter, Snow, in January and later shared photos of the baby with her followers, writing, “My whole heart [white love heart emoji]. Baby Snow.”

Her family later confirmed her death to TMZ, saying, “She passed away last night surrounded by family at the hospital. She was so loved.”

Sahara Ray’s younger sister, Ruby, later shared an emotional tribute on social media.

Ruby posted a collection of throwback photos of the sisters together, remembering Sahara as someone she had admired for as long as she could remember.

“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 said she had looked up to her older sister from the very beginning.

“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.