BACHELOR contestant Hailey Merkt passed away aged 31 after a “courageous fight” with leukaemia.
Hailey’s family confirmed the tragic news in a social media post on her own Instagram.
Who was Hailey Merkt?
Hailey Merkt was born on November 3, 1992.
She was a contestant on the Bachelor where she introduced herself as a photographer.
According to her Linkedin profile, Hailey last worked as a senior marketing and communications manager.
Originally from Vancouver BC, Canada, she studied Communication and media studies at Carleton University.
She also graduated from Conestoga College with a diploma in print journalism.
She tragically died on July 26, 2024.
An Instagram post, which featured photos of Hailey, 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. 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.”
The post praised Hailey 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,” the caption added.
The post continued, “Hailey will be profoundly missed by all who knew her. Her laughter, her love, and her vibrant spirit have left an undeniable mark on our heart. While we grieve her loss, we find comfort in knowing that her spirit will live on in all the lives she touched.
“Rest in peace, Hailey.”
When was Hailey Merkt on The Bachelor?
Hailey was introduced to Bachelor fans in Season 21 of the show in 2017, during which she competed for Nick Viall‘s heart.
The contestant, then 23, was one of the two Canadians to make the final cut for the show.
She posted on her Instagram at the time: “So excited to be representing Vancouver, BC as the least enthusiastic Bachelor contestant to date.
“Just kidding. Literally the best experience of my life. Can’t wait to watch all my friends!”
What happened to Hailey Merkt on The Bachelor?
Nick said goodbye to Hailey in the third episode of the show, during the second week of the competition.
After departing the show, she tweeted: “Cheers to all of the lovely people that are STILL rooting for me, even after being sent home.
“You all know how to make a girl smile.”
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When was Hailey Merkt diagnosed with leukemia?
Hailey was transparent about her struggle with leukaemia on her Instagram page.
Fans were given hope when she declared herself “leukaemia free” in April.
However, things took a turn for the worse three months later.
“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,” an update on her GoFundMe revealed.
“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.”
Hailey shared pictures and videos of her battle with cancer, chronicling both her victories and her losses.
She posted a picture of herself smiling during a therapy in October 2023, describing it as a “rare moment.”
Her feed has been filled with selfies, dog pics, modelling shots, and peeks into her everyday life up until that point.
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