The current Miss Austria, Lucia Sisic, has passed away at 22. She had lived with a congenital heart condition since birth.
Mission Austria, the organisation behind the Miss Austria and Mister Austria pageants, confirmed her death, calling it a time of “great shock and profound sadness”.
The cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
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Sisic was crowned Miss Austria in 2024 and continued to hold the title as no further contest has been held since.
In a statement, Mission Austria described Sisic as a “remarkable young woman” and sent condolences to her family, friends and loved ones.
Sisic had spoken openly in the past about her heart condition and the treatment she received growing up.
In 2024, she expressed gratitude to the doctors and nurses who treated her as a child, saying their care had helped her through many challenging periods.
Over the course of her life, Sisic underwent seven operations linked to her condition. She told Austrian media that her first surgery took place shortly after she was born.
She also spoke about how her illness impacted her childhood, noting that she was unable to take part in activities such as school sports weeks.
Despite her health struggles, Sisic pursued her ambitions and went on to win the Miss Austria title in 2024.
An Austrian charity that supports children with heart conditions ,Herzkinder Österreich, also honoured her memory.
The charity said her passing was untimely and that she had left the world “far too early” at just 22 years old.
It remembered Sisic as a kind and cheerful young woman who displayed great bravery while living with a congenital heart defect.
Mission Austria added that Sisic would always remain part of the Miss Austria family.
