Lucy Markovic, who competed in 'Australia's Next Top Model,' dies at 27

Fashion exemplary Lucy Markovic, who archetypal gained popularity arsenic a rival connected “Australia’s Next Top Model” earlier professionally modeling for luxury brands including Givenchy and Versace, has died.

Elite Model Management NYC, which represented the model, announced Markovic’s decease Thursday connected Instagram. Markovic, remembered arsenic a “bright shining light,” died aft a “brave battle” with a uncommon encephalon condition, the absorption steadfast said. She was 27.

Markovic suffered a encephalon arteriovenous malformation (AVM), which the Mayo Clinic describes arsenic a “tangle of humor vessels that creates irregular connections betwixt arteries and veins successful the brain.” A encephalon AVM disrupts the captious speech of humor betwixt the lungs and heart. It’s unclear what causes a encephalon AVM.

In Thursday’s announcement, Elite besides remembered Lucy for her “incredibly adust consciousness of humor,” her lukewarm and magnetic personality, and her emotion for modeling.

“She brought elegance, strength, and quality to her work,” the connection continued. “But much than that, she brought herself — her warmth, her laughter, her light.”

Markovic’s sister Jelena Markovic besides confirmed the model’s decease Friday morning. In a associated Instagram station with her sister’s account, Jelena mourned her sister, writing, “words volition ne'er explicit the people you near connected each the radical astir you.” Jelena said she could not judge that her “little Bambi twin” was gone and that her bosom was breached “in an infinity of pieces.”

Lucy Markovic of Australia’s Gold Coast archetypal showcased her modeling abilities arsenic a 16-year-old contestant connected the ninth play of “Australia’s Next Top Model” successful 2015. Markovic proved herself a beardown rival successful her debut, taking the apical slot successful the archetypal catwalk challenge. When Markovic wasn’t the top-ranked exemplary of the season, she was consistently safe. She lone faced the menace of elimination doubly crossed 12 episodes, including successful the finale. Ultimately Whittlesea’s Brittany Beattie won the the rubric of “America’s Next Top Model” and a dispersed successful Elle Australia.

“I’m conscionable truly arrogant of myself close now. This is what I wanted to amusement you guys from the start, that I could bash this,” she told judges successful the finale.

Despite losing to Beattie, Markovic’s modeling travel was acold from over.

In the years since, the exemplary has posed for brands including Armani, AllSaints, Cult Gaia and Staud. She was besides featured successful Vogue Singapore, Vogue Korea and Vanity Fair Italia. Throughout her career, Markovic besides appeared successful manner campaigns alongside modern modeling’s astir notable stars including Bella Hadid and Alex Consani.

Before her death, Markovic sought to merchandise her fittingness app, her sister said connected Instagram. Jelena shared behind-the-scenes footage of Markovic posing successful progressive deterioration portion lifting weights. “Your ambitions were ever truthful high,” Jelenea said.

“In information your imagination was to beryllium a Victoria Secret angel, and present you volition beryllium walking with each the Angels successful heaven. They volition each beryllium jealous of you!,” Jelena wrote. “We volition support your happiness and vigor successful our hearts and volition absorption connected each the astonishing moments you had successful your life. For now, alert free, bask your travel and we volition spot each different again connected the different side. We emotion you Lucy, forever.”