Former student Hailey Merkt dead aged 31: Model passes away after battle with cancer, as family pays heartbreaking tribute praising her ‘strength and grace’

Former Bachelor contestant Hailey Merkt has passed away at the age of 31 after a tragic battle with cancer.

On Tuesday, Merkt’s Instagram page was updated with what appeared to be his first post in more than two months, revealing that he had died after months of treatments for leukemia.

Merk previously competed on season 21 of The Bachelor, when she vied for the affections of Nick Viall.

“It is with a broken heart that we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life,” the statement began.

He said she had “faced this journey with unimaginable strength, grace and selflessness,” adding that “her determination, courage and will to live outweighed every deadline doctors gave her, and she chose to spend her final moments surrounded by her loved ones and doing what she held most dear without regret.”