Sahara Ray, model and designer, dies aged 34
The model and designer passed away in hospital at 34, months after announcing the birth of her daughter Snow.
Model and designer Sahara Ray has died at the age of 34, her family confirmed, prompting an outpouring of grief from followers and colleagues in the fashion world. Ray, who lived and worked in Los Angeles for years, passed away in hospital surrounded by her closest relatives.
Her relatives released a brief statement on her death: "She died last night in hospital, in the presence of her family. She was immensely loved and her absence will never be filled." The family has not yet made the medical cause public.
Final messages and a newborn daughter
Especially touching for many fans was Ray's most recent social-media post dedicated to her infant daughter. On July 19 this summer she shared images of her baby with the caption: "My whole heart. Little Snow." The post underscored that Ray had become a mother only months before her death, leaving behind a newborn named Snow and a grieving family.
International media and colleagues have also recalled Ray's public battle with a serious illness. In 2024 she spoke openly about living with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that attacks peripheral nerves and can cause muscle weakness, loss of reflexes and, in severe cases, paralysis or breathing complications.
In one of her videos about recovery she described the extent of the symptoms she was facing: "At the moment I am paralyzed from the upper part of my thighs down to my feet. I can't walk at all." Ray documented aspects of her rehabilitation as she tried to regain normal function.
Ray was the daughter of Australian surfing legend Greg Ray and rose to prominence first as a model and later as the founder of the beachwear label Sahara Ray Swim. She built a sizable social-media following—over a million followers—and expanded her career into design and entrepreneurship. Her brief relationship with pop star Justin Bieber in 2016 also attracted wide attention.
The fashion community has paid tribute to a young, creative figure whose life ended far too soon. Colleagues and fans noted Ray's entrepreneurial spirit and distinctive style as part of the legacy she leaves behind.
Photo: Mustang Joe / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
