Taken far too soon. RIP
Hailey Merkt, a former contestant on *The Bachelor*, has died at 31 after a long battle with leukemia. A message posted on her Instagram confirmed her passing, saying, “It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life.”
Hailey was remembered for her bravery and determination. “She chose to spend her last moments with family and friends doing what she loved most, with no regrets,” the post said, describing her as “highly entertaining, never dull, and fully present in the present moment.”
Her former *Bachelor* co-stars shared their grief online. “I feel so lucky to know your laugh,” Danielle Maltby wrote. Raven Gates added, “You’ll be remembered always,” while Dominique Alexis expressed, “I can’t believe I won’t see you again, but I’ll treasure every memory.”
Hailey’s journey had ups and downs. In April, she celebrated being “leukemia free,” but sadly, the cancer returned within weeks. Her GoFundMe page, set up by grieving family members, revealed, “Her first reaction was to say, ‘I don’t care about myself anymore, but I can’t bear being the cause of so much pain for the people I love.’”
Hailey first appeared on Season 21 of *The Bachelor*, competing for Nick Viall’s heart before being eliminated in the second week.
