The Bachelor Contestant Hailey Merkt Dead at 31
Hailey Merkt, who competed for Nick Viall’s heart in Season 21 of The Bachelor, has died at the age of 31.
Merkt passed away on Friday following a battle with leukemia, her family shared via Merkt’s Instagram. “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,” they said in a statement. “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.”
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Merkt competed in Season 21 of The Bachelor, which aired in 2017, with Bachelorette veteran Nick Viall handing out the roses. Billed as a photographer from Vancouver, British Columbia, Merkt was sent home by Nick in the season’s second week.
“Hailey will be profoundly missed by all who knew her,” her family’s statement continued. “Her laughter, her love, and her vibrant spirit have left an undeniable mark on our hearts. While we grieve her loss, we find comfort in knowing that her spirit will live on in all the lives she touched.”
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