Lucy Markovic, who gained fame as a runner-up on the ninth season of Australia’s Next Top Model, has died at age 27 following a battle with a rare brain condition.
Her passing was confirmed by her agency, Elite Model Management, and a statement posted to her official Instagram account early Friday. Markovic had revealed in March that she was set to undergo surgery for an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a serious tangle of blood vessels in her brain that had caused seizures and posed risks of stroke.
After rising to prominence in 2015, Markovic built an international modeling career, walking for Versace, Armani, Oscar de la Renta, and appearing in magazines such as Vogue and Marie Claire.
Tributes have poured in from across the fashion world, including from Donatella Versace and Model of the Year Alex Consani, with many remembering her elegance, warmth, and strength.
Elite described her as “a bright shining light,” saying, “We will never forget her.”