Hailey Merkt from The Bachelor season 21 (2017) passed away. She was 31, and died from cancer. Merkt died on July 26.
There was an announcement of her death on her Instagram page. Her post 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.”
The statement went on: “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 Merkt first appeared on the reality TV scene as a contestant on Season 21 of ABC’s “The Bachelor,” which premiered in January 2017. Competing for the affection of Nick Viall, she quickly made an impression with her outgoing personality and candid nature. Hailey, a Canadian native, brought a refreshing sense of humor and straightforwardness to the show. Despite her efforts, Hailey was eliminated in the third week.
The Bachelor alum shared her cancer diagnosis on Instagram. Last October, she posted a photo where she was smiling while she was doing a chemo treatment.
In April, she linked to a GoFundMe page, stating she was “leukemia free.”
Recently, her GoFundMe page was updated with the news of her death and an explanation of Merkt’s last few months.
“It is with shattered hearts I convey that our dear darling Hailey passed on Friday, July 26. 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. “
Rest In Peace.
