Hailey Merkt, a former contestant on "The Bachelor," has passed away at the age of 31 after a long battle with leukemia.
Her death was confirmed in a post on her personal Instagram account, which included a photo of Hailey and a heartfelt message.
"It is with broken hearts that we share our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life," the post read.
"Hailey faced this journey with unimaginable bravery, kindness, and selflessness. Her strength, determination, and will to live were evident in every deadline the doctors gave her. She chose to spend her final moments surrounded by family and friends, doing what she loved most, with no regrets."
The post described Hailey as “highly entertaining, never dull, and fully present in the moment,” and added, "Hailey embraced life with an unmatched zest; her beautiful spirit has touched countless lives."
"Hailey will be deeply missed by all who knew her," the post continued. "Her love, laughter, and energetic spirit will forever be remembered in our hearts. While we mourn her loss, we find comfort in knowing that her spirit will live on in everyone she inspired."
“Rest in peace, Hailey.”
To support the family during this difficult time, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched. The campaign, which will remain open until August 10, has raised over $112,208 CAD.
Hailey's Journey on 'The Bachelor'
Hailey appeared on Season 21 of "The Bachelor" in 2017, where she competed for Nick Viall's heart but was eliminated in the second week.
Tributes from Friends and Fellow Contestants
Tributes from friends and fellow contestants poured in following the news of Hailey's passing.
Danielle Maltby, a contestant from the same season, commented, "I feel so lucky to know your laugh and thankful to have met the kindest, most delightful person in the strangest places. Really appreciate your friendship, both online and off… So much love to all your people."
Raven Gates expressed her sorrow, writing, "Oh my goodness! That makes me so sad to hear this. I was really hoping she would get better soon. Rest easy, Hailey. You’ll be remembered always."
Ashley Stern wrote, "I feel lucky to have known such a beautiful solid soul and had such lovely conversations with her. I’ll never forget you, Hailey."
Dominique Alexis shared, "I hope you are in a beautiful, peaceful place, my love. I can’t believe I won’t see you again, but I’ll treasure every memory."
Hailey’s Battle with Leukemia
Hailey was open about her battle with leukemia, sharing her journey online. In April, she celebrated being “leukemia-free,” giving her fans hope. However, three months later, her condition took a turn for the worse.
According to a message on her GoFundMe page, "After the bone marrow transplant took, she was told she had nine months to not even think about cancer, but in truth, she only had six weeks before receiving the devastating news that the leukemia cells were back and advancing rapidly."
Her first response was, "I don’t care about myself anymore, but I can’t bear being the cause of so much pain for the people I love."
Throughout her fight, Hailey shared photos and videos of her progress and setbacks. In October 2023, she posted a rare smiling picture while receiving treatment, amidst a feed previously filled with selfies, photos of her dog, modeling shots, and glimpses into her daily life.
Hailey’s spirit, strength, and courage will continue to inspire those who followed her journey.
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