Miss Austria Lucia Sisic dies at 22

Reigning Miss Austria Lucia Sisic has died at the age of 22, according to officials. The Mission Austria organization announced her passing on Monday, stating it was with "great shock and deep sadness" that they learned of her death. Sisic held the Miss Austria title since winning in 2024, as no subsequent competition had been held. While an official cause of death has not been publicly revealed, Sisic had been open about her lifelong health struggles. She was born with a heart valve defect that necessitated multiple surgeries throughout her life. According to reports, she underwent seven heart operations, with her most recent procedure occurring in the winter of 2025. Following this operation, Sisic expressed her joy on social media, writing that she was "overjoyed" to hopefully have a break from medical treatments for several years. In a past social media post from August 2024, she had thanked a team of pediatric cardiology specialists, crediting them with helping her overcome difficult moments and live a fulfilling life. She was reportedly revived during one procedure at the age of 13, an experience she later described as "touch and go.