The Bachelor season 21 contestant Hailey Merkt died at the age of 31 after a “courageous fight” with Leukemia.
“Hailey faced this journey with unimaginable strength, grace, and selflessness. 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,” her family wrote in a post shared on Hailey’s Instagram account on Tuesday, July 30.
The caption 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.”
Hailey’s family shared she will be “profoundly missed” and “her laughter, her love, and her vibrant spirit have left an undeniable mark on our hearts.”
According to her Instagram bio, Hailey died on July 26, 2024.
Bachelor Nation shared their condolences in the comments section of the post, including Raven Gates Gottschalk and Danielle Maltby – who also appeared on Nick Viall’s season of The Bachelor.
“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,” Danielle, 38, wrote. “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.”
Raven, 34, for her part, was “so so sad to hear” the news of Hailey’s passing.
“I was so hoping for her recovery. Rest easy, Hailey you’ll never be forgotten,” the Bachelor In Paradise alum wrote.
Hailey documented her health battles via Instagram and announced her Leukemia diagnosis in 2023.
“Really scared to post this but it’s time to let a lot of people that care about me know what’s happening with me,” she wrote via Instagram Stories in October 2023 alongside an emotional video of herself shaving her hair off of her head. “I have Leukemia. And there’s a pretty good chance I won’t make it. Chemo didn’t work and I have [one] more (known to be less effective) method left.”
A few weeks later, Hailey revealed that she was diagnosed in August 2023, but didn’t announce it because she thought she could beat the disease.
Hailey celebrated being in remission in November, her birth month, after she fought the 2 percent chance of her treatment working.
“Next steps are another round of treatment, followed by a stem cell transplant after Christmas. I will be out of commission for nearly a full year after the procedure. It’s a long road ahead. But I’m so lucky to ride it.”
During her last post in her “F–k cancer” Instagram Stories highlight in April, Hailey shared what she’s learned since her world got turned upside down.
“Miracles do happen. As my aunt Candace said, someone has to be in the 2 [percent], right? You can be both strong and vulnerable at the same time. Don’t think what you have done in your life isn’t enough. It is,” she listed. “Tell the people you love how much you love them, and as often as you can. Selflessness is the most incredible gift you can give someone. I wouldn’t be alive today without it.”
