Swimwear Model Sahara Ray Dies at 34 from Overdose
The Australian-American model, who recently became a mother, died after an overdose of the opioid fentanyl.
Sahara Ray, an Australian-American swimsuit model and entrepreneur, has died at the age of 34. A source close to the model confirmed to the Daily Mail that Ray died from a fentanyl overdose on Friday night after being rushed to a Los Angeles area hospital. Ray's family confirmed her death to TMZ on Monday, stating she passed away surrounded by loved ones.
Ray, who launched her own swimwear line, Sahara Ray Swim, had recently become a first-time mother. She announced the arrival of her daughter, Snow, in January, sharing photos of the baby on Instagram and expressing her profound love and pride. In her final social media post in July, Ray shared images of Snow, writing, "My whole heart. Baby Snow."
Ray's life had seen significant challenges in recent years. In May 2024, she revealed a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition affecting the immune system's attack on nerves. She had been paralyzed from her upper thighs to her feet following an incident where she was reportedly hit by a drunk driver traveling at high speed on April 8. Ray described this event as sending her body into shock, leading to the subsequent illness. She had been reliant on a wheelchair and walker, expressing hope for recovery.
In December 2021, Ray also announced she had begun a 30-day treatment program for drug and alcohol abuse at a facility in Miami. In June 2020, she posted on Instagram about being a victim of predatory behavior.
Ray, the daughter of big wave surfer Tony Ray, grew up with a passion for surfing but transitioned to modeling and fashion in her teenage years. She attended The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles. She first gained public attention in 2016 when she was rumored to have dated Justin Bieber, and was also linked to model Jordan Barrett and singer Cody Simpson. Ray was known for her active presence on social media, often sharing photos of herself, including designs from her swimwear brand. She also joined the adult content platform OnlyFans in 2020.