“So Unbelievably Sad”: Miss Austria Dies at 22 After Lifelong Battle With Heart Condition
- Lucia Sisic, the reigning Miss Austria 2024, passed away at age 22 on 8 September 2026
- Sisic had lived with a heart valve defect since birth and underwent multiple surgeries, with her most recent procedure in late 2025
- The organisation behind the Miss Austria pageant confirmed her passing in a heartfelt statement
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Source: Instagram
Lucia Sisic, who held the Miss Austria 2024 crown, died on 8 September 2026 at just 22 years old. The Austrian beauty queen had fought a congenital heart valve defect her entire life, undergoing multiple surgeries over the years.
Mission Austria, the organisation that runs the Miss Austria pageant, confirmed her death in a statement released on their Instagram page. CEO Kerstin Rigger and Jörg Rigger said:
"It is with great shock and deep sadness that we have learned of the passing of our Miss Austria 2024 Lucia Sisic. Lucia will be remembered as a wonderful young woman. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her family, friends and everyone who was close to her at this difficult time. Dear Lucia, you will always be a part of our Miss Austria family. Rest in peace."
No cause of death was publicly disclosed.
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A life marked by courage
According to reports by the Sun, Austrian broadsheet Die Presse reported that Sisic had undergone several surgeries to address her heart defect throughout her life, with her most recent procedure taking place in late 2025. Whether her heart condition was connected to her death has not been confirmed.
In a 2024 post, Sisic spoke openly about her health journey, expressing gratitude for the medical teams who had supported her from childhood. She wrote in German.
"Thanks to the specialists and dedicated doctors who have always gone to great lengths to save my life time and time again, I have overcome many difficult moments and have been given the opportunity to live a fulfilling life."
She also reflected on the resilience it took to reach that point. She added:
"So far, I have only overcome a fraction of what still lies ahead of me. Nevertheless, I am proud that I did not give up, even though there were many reasons to do so."
Sisic won the Miss Austria title in 2024. Because no new edition of the pageant had been held since, she remained the reigning titleholder at the time of her death.
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Tributes Pour In for Lucia Sisic
People across social media shared their condolences after news of her passing spread:
@Jamie Rowell wrote:
"We all have a date on our heads"
@Douglas Anthony said:
"Had heart problems and seven heart operations prior to her death. All the same she achieved fame by winning her nation's beauty contest. RIP beautiful one."
@Mikhail Peppas shared:
"Endless love, blissful light and eternal grace dearest 💖"
@Acoustic Art wrote:
"🕊 Forever 🤲 Young 🕊 Rest In Peace 🙏 Beautiful Soul One Battle Too Many 💖 I know that journey very well... A 💔 Warrior 🙏"
@John Moroney said:
"Aw so unbelievably sad RIP my lovely young woman 🙏"
@Kevin Smith added:
"RIP beautiful angel, fly high 💔"
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Source: Briefly News
