Sahara Ray cause of death revealed: Justin Bieber's ex-girlfriend and model tragically dies at 34

Australian model and influencer Sahara Ray has died at the age of 34, with the Daily Mail reporting that the death was caused by a fentanyl overdose. Ray had overdosed on the deadly drug on Friday night and was rushed to a hospital in Los Angeles area, the publication reported citing a source close to her. As her condition worsened, Ray's family reportedly faced the decision to remove her from life support on Sunday.

'An incredibly passionate young woman'

Ray's mother, Gretchen Bach, told the Daily Mail that Ray "was an incredibly passionate and kind young woman who loved her family, fashion, her daughter Snow, and surfing."


In her final social media post weeks before her death, Ray had paid a tribute to her infant daughter, describing her as her "whole heart." She had welcomed the baby, Snow, in January this year.

The daughter of surfer Tony Ray, the model had made headlines in 2016 when she was rumored to be dating the Canadian pop star Justin Bieber.

Sahara Ray's health setbacks

Ray's modeling career took a hit in recent years as she struggled with serious health issues. In 2024, she said that she was suffering from the auto-immune disease Guillain-Barre syndrome, which had left her partially paralyzed.

Ray revealed that she had to use a wheelchair at times. The disease had been caused by trauma from a car accident, Ray said at the time.

"Right now I’m paralysed from the tops of my upper thighs all the way down to my feet. I can’t walk at al," she wrote on social media shortly after the accident. "This is really hard to deal with, I’ve been trying to keep a good attitude and be hopeful that my feeling comes back, but there’s always a chance it just stays like this," she added.

Ray revealed struggle with addiction

In December 2021, Ray revealed that she was struggling with addiction. At the time, she checked into a 30-day program for drug and alcohol abuse at a rehab center in Malibu. "I just checked into a mental health, wellness, drug and alcohol addiction treatment center retreat. It's really beautiful," she said back then.

Ray grew up an avid surfer, but later gave up the sport to pursue a career in modeling and fashion. She had a swimwear brand called Sahara Ray Swim. Ray joined the adult content website OnlyFans in 2020.