Lucia Sisic, who won Miss Austria 2024, died at 22. Mission Austria, the group behind the national pageant, confirmed her death in a public announcement that quickly spread through the Austrian pageant community. The news appeared on Mission Austria's social media and social media pages on September 7, 2026.
Mission Austria's executive director, Kerstin Rigger, and her husband, Jörg, released a statement expressing their condolences. They described Sisic as a impressive young woman the organization would always remember. The message offered sympathy to her family and everyone close to her. The organization has not said whether or how the title will be passed on, or whether the pageant will change in response to her death.
Sisic underwent her seventh and final heart surgery in the winter of 2025, just months before her death.
The official cause of death has not been made public. Sisic was born with a heart valve malformation and underwent seven heart surgeries during her life. She often spoke about her health on social media, thanking the doctors who treated her. After her last surgery, she wrote on Instagram that she was glad to "officially take a break for a few years," reflecting her openness about her ongoing health issues.
Sisic's story drew attention to the risks faced by people living with congenital heart conditions, even with good medical care. Her willingness to talk about her struggles brought her story beyond the pageant world. She spoke openly about her gratitude to her doctors and her repeated surgeries, offering a look at the reality behind her public image. Mission Austria has released no further details about her death.
In Austria, her death has sparked new conversations about the challenges young people with chronic health problems face. Sisic's life combined public success with private struggle, and the response from the pageant community reflects her impact during a short career.
Since the announcement of Sisic's death, public discussion of congenital heart disease among young adults in Austria has noticeably increased. But, no official decisions have been made about succession to the Miss Austria title or changes to the competition format.
Lucia Sisic's story reflected the courage it took to face personal adversity under public scrutiny. Her openness about her health set her apart, and her life and honesty left a mark on those who followed her journey inside and outside the pageant world. The exact cause of her death has not been shared.
