“Hailey faced this journey with unimaginable strength, grace, and selflessness,” a statement on her Instagram read
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The Bachelor season 21 alum Hailey Merkt has died from cancer. She was 31.
Merkt’s death was announced in a statement shared on Instagram, which read, “It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life.”
“Hailey faced this journey with unimaginable strength, grace, and selflessness,” the statement continued alongside several photos of Merkt. “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.”
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The statement continued: “She will forever be remembered as anything but boring, always hysterically funny, and as someone who lived fully in the present moment. Hailey embraced life with an unmatched zest; her beautiful spirit has touched countless lives.”
Several Bachelor nation alum paid tribute to Merkt — who was a contestant on Nick Viall’s season of The Bachelor — in the comment section.
“Oh my gosh!!! I’m so so sad to hear this” wrote Raven Gates, who also appeared on season 21 of The Bachelor. “I was so hoping for her recovery. Rest easy, Hailey 🤍 you’ll never be forgotten.”
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“I count myself so lucky to know your laugh and grateful to have met and loved the realest, warmest, most beautiful soul in the weirdest of places forever grateful for your friendship there and in the real world…. What a force my girl, rest easy so much love to all your people,” Danielle Maltby, who also vied for Viall’s heart, added.
“My love, I hope you are in the most beautiful peaceful place,” fellow Bachelor contestant Dominique Alexis wrote. “I can’t imagine that I won’t see you again but I’ll cherish every memory together. Love you”
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Merkt documented her cancer journey online after being diagnosed with leukemia. Back in October, she shared, “A rare moment caught smiling during treatment :).”
In April, she shared that she was “leukemia free” on her GoFundMe page. Following news of her death, an update was also provided on the fundraising page.
“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,” the update from organizer Christopher Bennett read in part. “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.’”
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“I am in awe of her. She had such clarity and independence and grace,” the update continued. “She decided she wanted to live every last minute she had to the fullest: being with the people she loved and doing the things she loved, and she loved doing so many simple things. A drink on a patio. Being in the sun. Her family and friends. Her dog, Snuggles. Swimming. An organized cupboard. A checklist of tasks all ticked off. Hanging out in a favourite park. Looking beautiful, with all the creativity that entails. Being beautiful. A beautiful soul.”
The GoFundMe page will remain open until Aug. 10 with proceeds going to the “remaining costs that have overwhelmed Hailey’s mother and family.”
