Former Bachelor Contestant Hailey Merkt Passes Away at 31 After Battle with Leukemia
Hailey Merkt, a former contestant on The Bachelor, has tragically passed away at the age of 31 following a long and courageous battle with leukemia.
Her passing was confirmed in a heartfelt social media post shared on her personal Instagram page. The post included a picture of Hailey and a touching message that read, “It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life.”
The tribute highlighted Hailey’s bravery and resilience throughout her illness, stating, “Hailey faced her journey with unimaginable bravery, kindness, and selflessness. Despite every medical setback, she remained determined and chose to spend her final days surrounded by family and friends, doing what she loved most, with no regrets.”
The post went on to describe Hailey as “highly entertaining, never dull, and fully present in each moment.” Her vibrant spirit and love for life touched many, and the caption added, “Hailey embraced life with an unmatched zest; her beautiful spirit has impacted countless lives.”
The post also expressed the deep loss felt by those close to her, saying, “Hailey will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her love, laughter, and energetic spirit will always be remembered. Though we mourn her loss, we find comfort in knowing her spirit lives on in everyone she inspired.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up by Hailey’s grieving family to help them through this difficult time. The campaign, which will remain open until August 10, has raised over 112,000 Canadian dollars.
Hailey made her television debut in 2017 during Season 21 of The Bachelor, where she competed for Nick Viall’s affection. She was eliminated in the second week of the competition, but left a lasting impression on her fellow contestants and viewers.
Several Bachelor alums shared their memories of Hailey in the comments section of her tribute post. Danielle Maltby, a fellow contestant from the same season, wrote, “I feel so lucky to know your laugh and thankful to have met the kindest, most delightful person in the strangest places. So much love to all your people.” Raven Gates added, “Oh my goodness! This makes me so sad. Rest easy, Hailey. You will always be remembered.”
Ashley Stern also shared her grief, saying, “I feel lucky to have known such a beautiful, solid soul. I’ll never forget you, Hailey,” while Dominique Alexis wrote, “I hope you’re in a peaceful place, my love. I can’t believe I won’t see you again, but I’ll cherish every memory.”
Hailey had been open about her battle with leukemia, sharing her journey with fans on social media. In April, she celebrated being “leukemia-free,” giving hope to many. However, just three months later, her health took a turn for the worse. According to the GoFundMe page, after her bone marrow transplant, Hailey was initially told she had nine months to focus on healing, but tragically, leukemia cells returned after only six weeks.
Throughout her fight, Hailey continued to document her experiences, posting updates about her treatment and moments of joy, like a photo of her smiling during treatment in October 2023, which she called a “rare moment.” Her social media had previously been filled with selfies, dog pictures, and glimpses into her modeling career and everyday life.
Despite her struggles, Hailey’s positivity and spirit remained strong, and her legacy of love and strength will live on in the hearts of those who knew her. Rest in peace, Hailey.
Did She Really Go Bald? Fans Are Convinced After Jennifer Hudson’s Stunning AMAs Appearance!
This past weekend, during the American Music Awards 50th Anniversary special, Jennifer Hudson enthralled the crowd. Even though she gave her typical amazing singing performance, her haircut was the one that really got people talking.
It may be puzzling that a celebrity’s new hairdo would create such a sensation, but Hudson’s look had nothing to do with a daring new cut or color for the occasion. Rather, admirers of the 43-year-old vocalist conveyed their conviction that she had entirely shaved her head. We can confirm that, contrary to what many social media users thought, Jennifer Hudson has not truly gone “bald,” even though we are convinced she would still look amazing.
Legends like Mariah Carey, Nelly, and Nile Rodgers performed on Sunday night (October 6) to commemorate the American Music Awards’ 50th anniversary.
Fans’ confusion about the current artists’ lack of recognition during the ceremony dominated much of the conversation around the event. The simple answer is that the normal AMAs will now take place in March 2025 instead of as scheduled. As the name suggests, Sunday’s event was an anniversary special celebrating the awards’ half-century of relevance in the music business.
The surprises didn’t stop there, as Jennifer Hudson, 43, attracted a lot of attention with her presence.
For the occasion, the Dreamgirls actress chose a figure-hugging, glossy gown that emphasized her silhouette and exuded elegance.
One of the night’s most watched videos saw Hudson introducing Mariah Carey to the AMA stage. People on social media reacted angrily to her appearance in the clip, believing that she had cut off her hair.
On Instagram, someone wrote, “Not me thinking she went bald although she would look stunning.”
To the same post, another person replied, “Same. But she looks good in it. If she ever does, that is.
“Me too! I thought I was the only one haha until I saw the pony tail [sic],” a third person said.
“What made me believe Miss Hudson was bald? However, I think that would look fantastic,” remarked a fourth user.
“Jen, I thought you went bald for a minute,” a fifth person said.
One commenter said, “Lord thank God [..] she didn’t go bald.” Another said, ” “I thought she was rocking the bald look,” said another person.
It’s possible that fans remember Hudson’s 2015 bald hairdo. The singer at the time captioned a selfie she had uploaded to Instagram with her hair pulled back, saying, “Who needs hair when you’re serving face!”
Recall that the centerpiece of Hudson’s AMAs performance ought to have been her stirring rendition of “I Will Always Love You,” a smash song made popular by Whitney Houston in the 1992 movie The Bodyguard.
Prior to her amazing performance, Hudson was questioned about her relationship with the late Whitney. “What is my connection to Whitney Houston?” she asked in response. The gospel, you know, the presence, is a gift, in my opinion. I was just struck by it at a young age. I doubt that there was ever a moment when I was unaware of Whitney.”
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