Hailey Merkt, who appeared on Season 21 of *The Bachelor*, has died at the age of 31 after a fight with cancer, her family announced.
“We are heartbroken to share that our dear Hailey has passed away after a brave battle with cancer,” her family wrote on Instagram. “Hailey faced this challenge with incredible strength, grace, and selflessness.”
Hailey was known for her humor and lively personality, and her passing has deeply affected everyone who knew her.
Her family added that Hailey’s determination and will to live went beyond what doctors expected. In her final moments, she was surrounded by loved ones and did what she loved most, with no regrets. Hailey died on July 26.
Hailey’s family described her as someone who truly lived life to the fullest and made a lasting impression on everyone she met. “She will be remembered as anything but boring—always hysterically funny and fully present in every moment,” they said.
Her family added, “Hailey will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her. Her laughter, love, and vibrant spirit have left a lasting mark on our hearts.”
Amid the many heartfelt tributes, Hailey’s family took comfort in the impact she made on others. “Even as we grieve her loss, we find solace in knowing her spirit will live on in the lives she touched. Rest in peace, Hailey,” they concluded in their emotional message.
Hailey had been open about her fight with leukemia, sharing her journey and reflections with her social media followers.
Her family started a GoFundMe page to support her, where they mentioned that she had undergone a bone marrow transplant earlier this year. This procedure initially gave her hope, with doctors predicting she had nine months to live without cancer concerns. Unfortunately, just six weeks later, she discovered that leukemia cells had returned aggressively.
Throughout her battle with cancer, Hailey stayed positive, sharing her treatment experiences on Instagram along with fashion and lifestyle inspiration. In an October post, she even shared a rare smile from during her treatment, captioning it: “A rare moment caught smiling during treatment :).”
Her family has been deeply grateful for the support they received during her illness and encouraged people who knew Hailey to share their memories of her.
Several of Hailey’s fellow contestants from Nick Viall’s season of *The Bachelor* have paid tribute to her, expressing their heartbreak over the loss of their friend.
Vanessa Grimaldi, who won Nick Viall’s season of *The Bachelor*, wrote: “Our beautiful girl!! This news broke me. You are such a light, and your beautiful big smile will always be something I remember. Always. Rest easy, friend! Sending big hugs to your loved ones xoxo.”
Danielle Maltby shared a touching message: “I feel so lucky to have known your laugh and to have met and loved the warmest, most beautiful soul in the strangest of places Forever grateful for your friendship both there and in the real world… What a force, my girl. Rest easy Sending so much love to all your people.”
Dominique Alexis expressed similar feelings, saying: “My love, I hope you are in the most beautiful, peaceful place. I can’t imagine not seeing you again, but I’ll cherish every memory we shared. Love you .”
Raven Gates added: “Oh my gosh!!! I’m so, so sad to hear this I was hoping for her recovery. Rest easy, Hailey You’ll never be forgotten.”
In accordance with Hailey’s wishes, there will be no official funeral. Her family hopes that those who knew her will keep her memory alive by cherishing the moments they shared with her, as noted on the GoFundMe page.
Bill Belichick Started Dating 24-Year-Old Cheerleader Jordon Hudson Over a Year Ago
It has been claimed for more than a year that former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who has witnessed more football seasons than most of us have seen on tax returns, has been dating 24-year-old cheerleader Jordon Hudson. Indeed, if you quickly calculated, Belichick is 72 years old. Surely, age is just a number?
PEOPLE has revealed that Belichick and Hudson have been dating for a while, which supports our suspicions. During numerous public appearances, Hudson—a former cheerleader at Bridgewater State University—has drawn attention in addition to the former NFL coach.
The gossip site TMZ originally revealed this tasty detail, in case you were under the impression that it was simply a rumor. As we all know, TMZ never exaggerates. Belichick’s former players, Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady, were aware of the age gap and brought out the marshmallow roast during Netflix’s live special, The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady.
“Coach, you used to talk about Foxborough High School when we sucked,” Gronkowski said, unable to contain his annoyance. However, I now see why you were so fascinated with Foxborough High School: you were scoping out potential girlfriend material. Gronk, ouch! That one is intelligent.
Not one to pass on the opportunity to poke fun at his former coach, Brady continued, “I used to say ‘the next one,’ when someone asked which ring was my favorite.” “That Ring camera that captured Coach Belichick sneaking out of that poor girl’s house at six in the morning a few months ago is my favorite now that I’m retired.” Brady was a savage. Absolute barbarism.
Let’s go back a little, though. Linda Holliday, Belichick’s 16-year girlfriend, came before Hudson. A PEOPLE source claims that their long-term relationship ended in September 2023. You ask, what went wrong? According to the sources, these were long-simmering difficulties rather than anything brand-new.
Holliday held the position of president of Belichick’s Bill Belichick Foundation and has been associated with him since 2007. The insider claimed, “They have issues to resolve that stem from a long relationship as well as her role in his professional life.” The juggling act between coaching responsibilities and personal life is unimaginable.
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