#SHOWBIZ: Reigning Miss Austria Lucia Sisic dies at 22 after lifelong health battle

Vienna - Reigning Miss Austria Lucia Sisic has died at the age of 22 after a lifelong struggle with a congenital heart valve defect. The news was shared through an official statement from Kerstin Rigger and Jorg Rigger, the chief executive and director of Mission Austria, the organization behind the national pageant. In a German post on the organization's Instagram page, they expressed shock and deep sadness over her passing.

They called Lucia a wonderful young woman and extended their deepest sympathies to her family, friends, and the Miss Austria community.

The cause of death has not been officially disclosed. Reports from Die Presse and other local outlets indicate that Sisic underwent multiple surgeries to manage her heart condition, with her most recent procedure happening late last year. It remains unclear whether complications from her medical history played a role in her death.

In a 2024 post, Sisic thanked the medical teams who had cared for her throughout her life. She wrote, "Thanks to the specialists and dedicated doctors who have always gone to great lengths to save my life time and time again, I have overcome many difficult moments and have been allowed to live a fulfilling life." Despite her challenges, she remained proud of her journey, acknowledging that she had only scratched the surface of what lay ahead. Sisic was crowned Miss Austria in 2024, though no national competition has taken place since.