Sahara Ray, a model and the daughter of Australian pro surfer Tony Ray, died on Sunday, October 18. She was 34.
“She passed away last night surrounded by family at the hospital,” Sahara’s family said in a statement to TMZ on Monday, October 19. “She was so loved.”
An official cause of death has yet to be revealed. Us has reached out to Sahara’s team for comment.
Sahara, who was born in Australia and grew up in California, rose to fame through her modeling career. After building a large following on social media, she was able to launch her own swimwear line called Sahara Ray Swim.
The model also made headlines for spending time with Justin Bieber in 2016. At the time, the pair were photographed vacationing together in Hawaii. (She was also reportedly linked to singer and future Traitors star Cody Simpson.)
In 2024, Sahara revealed she had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the rare neurological disorder is a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. It can cause weakness, numbness or paralysis.
“My whole life changed in an instant,” she wrote via Instagram at the time, per Australia’s 7 News. “So thankful for my family and doctors for helping me get stronger everyday. Attitude is everything.”
In her video, Sahara admitted she had been “pretty depressed” from the condition and needed a wheelchair to help move around.
“Right now, I’m paralyzed from the tops of my upper thighs all the way down to my feet,” she said at the time. “I can’t walk at all.” (It’s unclear whether the diagnosis led to her death.)
Over time, Sahara’s symptoms began to improve. In August 2025, she announced her pregnancy and gave birth to a baby girl named Snow earlier this year.
“Happy Mother’s Day to all my strong beautiful mothers,” she wrote via Instagram on May 10. “You are the light and love of my life baby Snow🤍. Thank you for existing.”
Throughout her life, Sahara also tried to follow a mantra that kept her in a positive mindset.
“Have courage, and be kind,” she told GQ in July 2015. “Where there is kindness, there is goodness and where there is goodness, there is magic.”
In what would have been her final post on Instagram before her death, Sahara shared photos of her growing baby girl with a caption that showcased how much she loved being a mother.
“My whole heart 🤍 baby Snow,” she wrote on July 19.
