Who was Hailey Merkt and when was she on The Bachelor?

BACHELOR contestant Hailey Merkt has passed away at age 31 after a “courageous fight” against leukemia.

Hailey’s family confirmed the tragic news in a social media post on their own Instagram.

Who was Hailey Merkt?

Hailey Merkt was born on November 3, 1992.

She participated in Bachelor’s, where she introduced herself as a photographer.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Hailey last worked as a senior marketing and communications manager.

Originally from Vancouver BC, Canada, she studied Communications and Media Studies at Carleton University.

She also graduated from Conestoga College with a degree in print journalism.

She tragically died on July 26, 2024.

An Instagram post, which featured photos of Hailey, said: “It is with a broken heart that 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. Her determination, courage and will to live surpassed every deadline doctors gave her, and she chose to spend her final moments surrounded by loved ones and doing what she loved most. no regrets.”

The post praised Hailey as “anything but boring, always hysterically funny, and as someone who lived fully in the present moment.”

“Hailey embraced life with unparalleled enthusiasm; His beautiful spirit touched countless lives,” the caption added.

The post continued: “Hailey will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her. Her laugh, her love, and her vibrant spirit left an undeniable mark on our hearts. As we mourn her loss, we find comfort in knowing that her spirit will live on in all lives that she touched.

“Rest in peace, Hailey.”

When did Hailey Merkt appear on The Bachelor?

Hailey was introduced to Bachelor fans on the show’s 21st season in 2017, during which she competed for Nick Viall’s heart.

The then-23-year-old contestant was one of two Canadians to make the show’s final selection.

She posted on her Instagram at the time: “I’m so excited to represent Vancouver, BC as the least enthusiastic Bachelor contestant to date.

“Just kidding. Literally the best experience of my life. I can’t wait to watch all my friends!”

What happened to Hailey Merkt on The Bachelor?

Nick said goodbye to Hailey in the third episode of the program, in the second week of competition.

After leaving the show, she tweeted: “Cheers to all the lovely people who are STILL rooting for me even after I was sent home.

“You all know how to make a girl smile.”

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When was Hailey Merkt diagnosed with leukemia?

Hailey has been transparent about her battle with leukemia on her Instagram page.

Fans were given hope when she declared herself “leukemia free” in April.

However, things got worse three months later.

“After the bone marrow transplant was performed, she was told she had nine months to not even think about cancer, but in fact she only had six weeks before she received the terrible news that the leukemia cells were back and moving quickly,” an update on his GoFundMe revealed.

“Her first reaction was to say, ‘I don’t care about myself anymore, but I can’t bear to be the cause of so much pain for the people I love.’

Hailey shared photos and videos of her battle with cancer, chronicling her victories and defeats.

She posted a photo of herself smiling during therapy in October 2023, describing it as a “rare moment.”

Her feed is filled with selfies, dog photos, modeling photos, and peeks into her everyday life up to that point.

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