Lucy Markovic, best known for appearing on Australia’s Next Top Model, has sadly died at 27.
The runway model tragically passed away on Thursday (April 10) after undergoing emergency brain surgery earlier this month to treat an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) - a rare and serious condition involving tangled blood vessels in the brain.
According to the Mayo Clinic, AVMs disrupt blood flow and prevent oxygen from properly reaching brain tissue. The condition is extremely rare, affecting just one in 100,000 people.
Markovic's partner, Carlos, announced the heartbreaking news in a statement shared on Instagram: “Dear friends and family, I regret to inform you that Lucy has passed.
"She was at peace. Me, her mother, and my mother were present with her," he continued. "We ask you to please give us space in these hard times. May Lucy rest in peace.”
The model had been open with fans about her health struggles, sharing that she was due to undergo surgery on March 26 to address an AVM "in the back of her brain," which she described as being “the size of a golf ball." The procedure was rescheduled for April 2, but complications followed.
“Lucky + unlucky – Radiation, seizures, heavy medication and 4 years later,” she wrote in what would become one of her final Instagram posts, per ELLE Magazine.
“Excited, thankful, scared, supported, hopeful. Full flood of emotions in this time. Life’s a journey, and I’m ready for the next chapter," she added.
Markovic first shot to fame in 2015 as the 16-year-old runner-up on Australia’s Next Top Model.
Her performance launched a global modeling career, with campaigns for major fashion houses, including Versace, Victoria Beckham, Emporio Armani, and Givenchy.
Following news of her tragic death, tributes poured in from across the fashion world. Elite NYC, the agency that represented her, remembered her as a "bright shining light, and had an incredible dry sense of humor."
"Her smile and laughter could light up a room, and draw you closer to her," they continued. "Modeling was one of Lucy’s dreams, and we are deeply honored to have been part of that journey with her. She brought elegance, strength, and beauty to her work. But more than that, she brought herself - her warmth, her laughter, her light.
"To her family and friends, please know that you are in our prayers and in our hearts. We mourn with you, and we celebrate the incredible person Lucy was. We will never forget her," they concluded.
Donatella Versace reposted a photo of the late model on her Instagram story with the caption: “I am so sorry to hear the news about @lucymarkovicc. Rest in peace, beautiful girl."
Supermodel Alex Consani wrote: “Rest In Peace Angel” on Instagram, and former The Face model Cheyenne Tozzi penned: “Lucy, rest in peace, little angel."
Our thoughts are with Markovic's loved ones at this time.