Austrian model and beauty queen Lucia Sisic has died at the age of 22, the Mission Austria pageant organisation has announced.
Sisic passed away recently, but her cause of death has not been disclosed.
She was crowned Miss Austria in 2024 and held the national title until her death, as no further editions of the beauty contest were held after her win.
Mission Austria mourned the model in a statement posted to its official Facebook page, writing that Sisic would remain in their memories as a wonderful young woman. The organisation added that their thoughts and most sincere sympathy were with her family, friends, and everyone close to her during this difficult time, stating that she would always remain part of their family.
Heart defect and medical treatment
Sisic was born with a heart valve defect and underwent multiple surgical operations over the years, according to People magazine.
In a social media statement published in 2024, the model expressed her gratitude to the paediatric cardiology team that had treated her. She wrote that the medical staff had fought with great commitment to save her life, allowing her to overcome many challenging moments and live a full life.
Sisic added that she was proud never to have given up, even though there had often been reasons to do so. Sending her best wishes to the hospital team, she said goodbye to the paediatric department as she moved into adult cardiology for the next stage of her care.
Congenital heart valve conditions
A heart valve defect is a congenital condition present from birth that affects how blood circulates through the heart. Patients diagnosed during childhood typically require specialized paediatric monitoring and surgical intervention, before moving to adult congenital specialists later in life.
The Miss Austria competition is the nation's principal beauty pageant, historically selecting Austrian representatives for major international contests. Sisic continued to represent the organization as its reigning titleholder following her 2024 coronation.
