Ray, who founded Sahara Ray Swim and became a mother this year, died at a hospital surrounded by her family.
LOS ANGELES, CA — Australian model and swimwear designer Sahara Ray has died at age 34, her family confirmed, ending a career that brought her a large social media following and international attention in fashion and entertainment. Her family said Ray died Sunday, Oct. 18, at a hospital with relatives by her side.
Ray’s family confirmed her death in a statement provided to TMZ on Monday. “She passed away last night surrounded by family at the hospital,” the family said. “She was so loved.” An official cause of death has not been confirmed. Other details surrounding her final hospitalization have not been publicly established by her family or authorities.
Ray built a public profile as a model before creating her own fashion business, Sahara Ray Swim. The Australian-born entrepreneur launched the swimwear label in 2014 and used her growing online audience to promote the brand. She was also the daughter of Australian surfer Tony Ray and spent parts of her childhood in Australia, California and Hawaii.
Her younger sister, Ruby Ray, shared a tribute after the death became public, describing Sahara as a deeply loved older sister with an unforgettable personality. Ruby called her a “force of nature” and wrote about wanting more time, laughter and conversations with her. Friends and people who had worked with Ray also posted remembrances after news of her death spread.
Ray had entered a new stage of her life only months earlier. She welcomed a daughter, Snow, in January 2026 and shared parts of her experience as a new mother on social media. One of her final public posts centered on her daughter, whom she described as her “whole heart.” Ray had largely kept details about her child’s father out of the public record.
Two years before her death, Ray also spoke publicly about a serious health crisis. In 2024, she said she had developed Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder in which the immune system attacks the nerves. Ray said the illness left her partially paralyzed and at one point dependent on a wheelchair and walker. She later documented parts of her effort to regain mobility.
Ray connected the onset of the illness to the period after a serious vehicle crash, though no official finding has established that the condition caused or contributed to her death. Guillain-Barré syndrome can lead to weakness and paralysis, but Ray’s family has not announced a cause of death, and reports about possible causes have not been officially confirmed.
Beyond her modeling and fashion work, Ray drew wider media attention in 2016 after she was photographed vacationing in Hawaii with singer Justin Bieber. The appearance led to reports that the two were romantically involved, though the relationship was not publicly confirmed by Ray. She was also linked in entertainment coverage to Australian singer Cody Simpson.
Ray’s career reflected the rise of a generation of models who used social media to build audiences outside traditional fashion channels. Her online following helped expand attention around her swimwear business, while her public posts mixed fashion work with glimpses of travel, health challenges and, most recently, motherhood.
Her death comes less than a year after the birth of her daughter and roughly two years after she publicly disclosed her neurological illness. As of Tuesday, Ray’s family had not announced an official cause of death or released details about funeral or memorial arrangements. Her sister and friends continued to share tributes remembering her life and their time with her.
Author note: Last updated October 20, 2026.