Australian model and swimwear designer Sahara Ray passed away on October 18, 2026, aged 34, her family confirmed to TMZ the following day. They said she had been surrounded by family at the hospital and emphasized how deeply she was loved. The announcement came months after she welcomed her first child, a daughter named Snow. Friends and followers have since shared condolences and memories of her. An official cause of her passing has not been confirmed, and her family’s announcement did not provide further medical details.
Ray developed a public profile through modeling, social media, and her swimwear business, Sahara Ray Swim. The daughter of professional surfer Tony Ray, she grew up with strong connections to Australia, California, and Hawaii. In an earlier interview, she recalled traveling with her father while he attended surfing competitions. Those experiences formed part of a childhood closely connected to coastal life. Her professional identity later combined fashion, photography, and an online presence through which followers saw selected moments from her work and personal life.
She also attracted celebrity coverage in 2016 after being photographed vacationing with Justin Bieber in Hawaii. Their time together prompted reports of a possible relationship, although describing her simply as his former girlfriend gives greater certainty than some coverage supports. She was also previously linked to Australian singer Cody Simpson. Those associations brought additional attention, but they represented only part of her public story. Her modeling work and business gave her an identity beyond the musicians with whom she was photographed or romantically linked.
In 2024, Ray publicly discussed a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome and described significant difficulties with mobility. Her updates acknowledged the support of family and doctors as she worked toward recovery. Later, her posts focused increasingly on becoming a parent. Snow was born on January 27, 2026, according to a birth announcement shared by Ray’s mother, Gretchen. Ray subsequently introduced her daughter to followers through photographs and videos. In July, she posted another affectionate tribute to Snow, describing the baby as her “whole heart.”
The tributes following the announcement have offered a more personal view of Ray. Her sister, Ruby, remembered her intelligence, humor, empathy, and energy, while friend Becky Hearn shared photographs and recalled her kindness. These recollections sit alongside the professional images through which many followers first encountered her. For her loved ones, the loss concerns a daughter, sister, friend, and new mother whose life extended well beyond public headlines. Her family’s words and the moments she shared with Snow remain central to how she is being remembered.