Justin Bieberand ex Sahara RayA life marked by a remarkable rise in fashion, a highly visible connection to the singer, and a personal struggle that she had shared with her followers from time to time.
The Australian-American model’s death at 34, following a reported fentanyl overdose, has now drawn new attention to the hardships she faced behind the glamorous Instagram images.
Just months after welcoming her daughter, Ray’s final days have left loved ones mourning a woman whose life extended far beyond her celebrity connections.
Justin Bieber’s ex Sahara Ray built a life beyond her famous romance
Justin Bieber’s ex rose to fame in 2016, when photos of her with the pop star, including a skinny dipping trip caught by paparazzi, made headlines. However, the attention from that rumored romance was only one part of her public identity.
Raised by the great surfer Tony Ray, Sahara grew up around surfing before choosing fashion and modeling as a teenager.
She moved from Australia to Los Angeles and studied at the Institute of Fashion Design & Merchandising.
The 34-year-old later launched her own swimwear label, Sahara Ray Swim, and developed a following through bold Instagram posts.
She also joined OnlyFans in 2020 and was known for her friendship with British model Lottie Moss.
Her online presence wasn’t always about fashion. In June 2020, Ray posted an emotional account claiming to have experienced predatory behavior from men.
Sahara opened up about a serious health struggle
Justin Bieber’s ex-husband told fans about his battle against addiction. In December 2021, she entered a 30-day treatment program for drug and alcohol abuse in Malibu and spoke openly about recording the information.
“I checked into a mental health, wellness, drug and alcohol addiction treatment center,” she said according to the Daily Mail. “I will be here for 30 days. This is the first day.”
The model also revealed plans to share her journey on YouTube while keeping her Instagram updates lighter.
Another crisis followed in 2024. Sahara revealed that she was hit by a drunk driver while traveling at 80 mph on April 8.
She later revealed a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome, in which the immune system attacks the nerves. The illness left her paralyzed from the upper thighs down, dependent on a wheelchair and a walker.
Ray described the accident as a shock to her body. After being very ill and struggling to keep food down, she suffered from numbness and tingling that spread from her legs to her feet. However, her later photo shoots suggested that she had made progress.
Justin Bieber’s new motherhood was cut short
In January, Sahara announced the arrival of her daughter, Snow, and shared photos of the newborn. She did not recognize the child’s father. Her last Instagram post, shared in July, was dedicated to the baby, and read, “All my heart. baby Snow.”
That vision of new motherhood is now alongside reports of the latest crisis in the Sahara. A source close to the model told the Daily Mail that she overdosed on fentanyl on Friday night and was taken to a Los Angeles area hospital.
She was put on life support, and her family decided to take her away late Sunday afternoon. According to the income, the Sahara died surrounded by loved ones.
Her mother, real estate agent Gretchen Bach, remembered Ray as “a very passionate and kind young woman who loved her family, fashion, her daughter Snow, and surfing.”
Bach said the family “feels the outpouring of love from her dear friends, fans and the many communities she was a part of around the world.”
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Sahara’s former friend Lottie Moss regrets it
After the ex-mother of Justin Bieber talked about the love that surrounded her daughter, friends who shared different chapters of her life also praised.
British model Lottie Moss, who once had a close relationship with Sahara, posted an emotional memorial after her death on her Instagram story.
Moss regretted not answering Ray’s last message or returning her call, and her comments included the words, “I wish I had called you back.”
She also looked at the years they spent together, remembering that they met while both were trying to understand themselves and maybe they found comfort in each other.
Moss remembered the energy of the Sahara and how it could make a lasting impression. Their relationship had broken up after a public spat on social media in 2023, when Sahara accused Moss of drug use, and Moss responded by calling Ray a “very sick girl.”
In tribute, however, Moss focused instead on the happiest memories they had shared.
Former Justin Bieber remembered by Sabrina Zada in an emotional post
Moss was not the only model who mourned the Sahara in public. Sabrina Zada, who had modeled with her, also paid tribute on October 19, posting photos of the couple and using a line from Taylor Swift’s song “Bigger Than the Whole Sky” to express her grief.
“You were bigger than the whole sky @sahara_ray,” Zada wrote on Instagram. She admitted that she had difficulty making sense of the loss and said that she accepted that the Sahara would still be here.
“Automatically, I just assumed you’d be here because why wouldn’t someone as beautiful, kind, funny, and interesting as you be here anymore,” Zada continued.
The model then expressed how much she missed her friend, ending with a plea, “Please text me back and say it’s time and nothing more.