Justin Bieber’s rumored ex Sahara Ray dies at 34, just months after giving birth
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Australian model and swimsuit designer Sahara Ray, the daughter of surfing legend Tony Ray and once linked to Justin Bieber, has died at 34, months after welcoming daughter Snow in January 2026.
Her family confirmed her death in a statement, while her cause of death has not been confirmed.
Sahara Ray battled Guillain-Barre syndrome before her death
Ray’s family confirmed that she died in hospital surrounded by loved ones. “She passed away last night surrounded by family at the hospital,” her family told TMZ in a statement. “She was so loved.”
In 2024, Ray opened up about her battle with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that left her partially paralyzed and unable to walk following a serious car accident involving an alleged drunk driver travelling at 80 mph.
“I’m so overwhelmed with what’s going on with me,” she said in a since-deleted TikTok video, according to Australia’s 7News. “So basically, right now I’m paralyzed from the tops of my upper thighs all the way down to my feet. I can’t walk at all… I am primarily in a wheelchair and I have a walker.”
In another account of her diagnosis, Ray explained that she did not know how to begin discussing her condition and described the extent of her paralysis. She also said she could “barely walk” and relied primarily on a wheelchair and a walker.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Guillain-Barre syndrome is a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves and can cause weakness, numbness or paralysis.
Sahara Ray welcomed daughter Snow and was linked to Justin Bieber
Ray welcomed her daughter Snow in January 2026, having announced her pregnancy on Instagram on August 1, 2025. She documented her growing baby bump through photographs and videos on social media. A TikTok video shared on January 28 appeared to indicate that Snow was born on January 27.
In April, Ray shared a video introducing her newborn to her social media followers. Accompanied by Bieber’s song 'Everything Hallelujah', the clip showed the new mother cuddling her daughter. “Baby snow hallelujah,” she captioned the post.
Her final Instagram post, shared on July 19, was dedicated to Snow, whom she described as “my whole heart.”
Ray made headlines in 2016 when she was photographed vacationing with Bieber and friends in Hawaii. She had posted a photograph of the two together, prompting reports linking her to the singer. She was also reportedly linked to singer Cody Simpson.
Born in Australia, Ray grew up primarily in Santa Cruz and spent winters in Hawaii with her father, Tony. Speaking to GQ, she recalled travelling around the world with him while he competed in the Pipe Masters and big-wave competitions. Her father was ranked No. 11 in the world in 1992, the year after Sahara was born.
