A former contestant on the popular reality series The Bachelor has died. Hailey Merkt was only 31 years old.
She tragically died from leukemia, according to her family.
Merkt, a photographer and model from Vancouver, British Columbia, appeared on the 21st season of The Bachelor in 2017.
Her family remembered her as someone who lived life to the fullest and left a mark on all who met her.
"It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life," her family said in a statement.
"Her determination, courage, and will to live surpassed every timeline the doctors gave her, and she chose to spend her final moments surrounded by loved ones and doing what she cherished most with no regrets."
"She will forever be remembered as anything but boring, always hysterically funny, and as someone who lived fully in the present moment."
Merck's Bachelor co-stars expressed shock and grief over the news.
"My love, I hope you are in the most beautiful peaceful place. I can’t imagine that I won’t see you again but I’ll cherish every memory together. Love you," co-star Dominque Alexis wrote.
Merkt received a bone marrow transplant that was believed to be successful, but the cancer returned only six weeks later, according to a GoFundMe page set up by Christopher Bennett.
She met her untimely death with courage and grace, Bennett said, writing he is "in awe" of her.
"After the bone marrow transplant had taken, she was told she had nine months to not even think about cancer, but in truth she only had 6 weeks before she got the terrible news that leukemia cells were back and moving fast," Bennett wrote.
"Her first reaction was to say, 'I don't care about myself anymore, but I can't bear being the cause of so much pain for the people I love,'' Merkt was quoted as saying.
"I am in awe of her. She had such clarity and independence and grace," Bennett continued.
On the day after her 31st birthday in November, the model shared a glamorous selfie with the caption, "31 and not the f***ing last" with a birthday cake emoji.
Such a tragedy. RIP.
