Lucia Sisic, crowned Miss Austria 2024, has died at just 22. The pageant organization confirmed her passing. Sisic had faced serious heart problems since birth, undergoing multiple surgeries.
Lucia Sisic, Miss Austria 2024, has died at 22. Her death was confirmed by Mission Austria, the group behind the national pageant, in a public announcement that quickly spread through the Austrian pageant community. The news was shared on September 7, 2026, through Mission Austria's Facebook and Instagram pages.
Mission Austria's executive director, Kerstin Rigger, and her husband Jörg, released a statement expressing their condolences. They described Sisic as a remarkable young woman and said she would always be remembered by the organization. The message offered sympathy to her family, friends, and everyone close to her. So far, the organization has not said how or if 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 had 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," showing how open she was about her ongoing health issues.
Sisic's story brought attention to the risks faced by people living with congenital heart conditions, even with good medical care. Her willingness to talk about her struggles made her story stand out beyond the pageant world. She was open about her gratitude for her doctors and her experience with repeated surgeries, offering a look at the reality behind the public image. Mission Austria has not released 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 was marked by both public success and private struggle. The response from the pageant community shows the impact she had in her short career.
Following the announcement of Sisic's death, there has been a noticeable increase in public discussion about congenital heart disease among young adults in Austria. However, as of now, no official decisions regarding the succession of the Miss Austria title or changes to the competition format have been made.
Lucia Sisic's story is about more than a title. It is about public recognition and personal adversity, and the courage to face both. Her openness about her health set her apart. While the exact cause of her death has not been shared, her life and honesty have left a mark on those who followed her journey, both inside and outside the pageant world.
