Hailey Merkt, who appeared on Season 21 of *The Bachelor* in 2017 as a contestant vying for Nick Viall’s attention, has tragically passed away at the age of 31.
At the time of her appearance on the show, Merkt was about 24 years old and was eliminated in the second week. After her stint on the series, she went on to work as a model and photographer, focusing on home decor and fashion. In 2023, she started sharing her battle with leukemia—a type of blood cancer—on Instagram. She underwent chemotherapy and had a GoFundMe page set up to support her treatment.
In April 2024, Hailey excitedly shared that she was in remission, stating, “The experimental treatment worked and put me into remission with only a 2% chance of success!” Despite this positive news, she remained cautious, noting that her immune system would be very weak for up to a year after her stem cell transplant.
Unfortunately, her condition worsened quickly. Her family later updated her GoFundMe page, revealing that although she was initially given a hopeful prognosis, she only had six weeks of remission before the leukemia returned aggressively. Her brother Kyle donated stem cells for her treatment, and the funds raised through the GoFundMe were crucial for her medical care. The family expressed gratitude for the extra eight months her trial medication provided, allowing her to enjoy her remaining time more comfortably.
Hailey’s death was announced on Instagram on July 30th. Her family wrote, “With broken hearts, we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight. Her determination and spirit exceeded every expectation, and she spent her final moments surrounded by loved ones and doing what she loved.”
The GoFundMe page remains open to support her family with funeral expenses and has raised over $100,000. Her co-stars from *The Bachelor* have also paid their respects. Danielle Maltby expressed her gratitude for their friendship and described Hailey as a warm, genuine person, while Raven Gates shared her sadness, hoping for Hailey’s recovery and remembering her fondly.
