Reigning Miss Austria beauty queen dead at 22

Reigning Miss Austria beauty queen, Lucia Sisic, has died at the age of 22, having lived with a congenital heart condition throughout her life, according to a report by the BBC.

Mission Austria, organiser of the Miss Austria and Mister Austria pageants, announced her death in a Facebook tribute on Monday, describing the news as a “great shock.” No cause of death has been confirmed.

Sisic was crowned Miss Austria in 2024 and remained the reigning titleholder, as no subsequent pageant had been staged. She had previously spoken publicly about undergoing seven operations related to her condition, crediting her medical team for saving her life multiple times.

Herzkinder Österreich, a charity supporting children with heart conditions, also paid tribute, describing her as a “warm-hearted, joyful” young woman who pursued her path with courage.