Lucia Sisic, who was crowned Miss Austria in 2024, has died at the age of just 22. The young woman had suffered from a congenital heart defect since birth and had undergone seven surgeries throughout her life. The exact cause of her death has not been made public.
Her departure was announced by Mission Austria, the organization that manages the Miss and Mister Austria titles. Lucia Sisic was still the reigning Miss Austria, as no new national pageant had been held since her crowning in 2024.
A heart defect diagnosed at birth
Originally from Vienna, Lucia Sisic was born with a malformation affecting her heart valves. Her medical journey began almost immediately after her birth with her first operation.
In total, the young woman had to undergo seven operations. She had publicly spoken about the consequences of her illness on her childhood and schooling, including her inability to participate normally in sports activities.
"My childhood was simply different, but it also made me strong," she explained, referring to those years marked by hospitalizations.
At 13, she had to be resuscitated during an operation
One of the most serious episodes in her medical history dates back to 2017. Lucia Sisic was 13 years old at the time. During surgery, her condition deteriorated rapidly to the point that doctors had to resuscitate her. "I was 13 years old and I had to be resuscitated during the operation. It was really very close," she recounted several years later.
Following the surgery, the teenager also suffered serious complications. Her left leg and foot became numb and extremely painful. She was hospitalized for several months and had to relearn how to walk.
Seventh operation in winter 2025
Lucia Sisic underwent her seventh heart surgery in the winter of 2025. After the operation, she was particularly relieved and hoped to finally be able to take a break from surgery for several years: "I have now also had my seventh surgery and I am extremely happy to be able to officially, hopefully for a few years, take a break."
Despite her arduous medical journey, she refused to be defined solely by her illness. "I don't want pity, I want to encourage others!" she declared. She particularly wanted to use her fame to support children facing similar health challenges.
From Miss Vienna to Miss Austria in 2024
In 2024, Lucia Sisic won the title of Miss Vienna before being crowned Miss Austria. She deliberately chose not to highlight her heart condition during the competition so that the judges wouldn't be influenced by her personal history. She was still officially Miss Austria at the time of her death. Subsequent editions of the pageant were not held, primarily due to financial difficulties.
The exact cause of his death has not been revealed.
At this stage, no official link has been established between Lucia Sisic's heart defect and her death. The precise cause of her death has not been released. It would therefore be premature to state that the young woman died directly as a result of her heart condition.
Mission Austria paid tribute to her after the announcement of her passing: "Lucia will be remembered as a wonderful young woman. Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go out to her family, friends, and all those close to her."
Just weeks before her death, Lucia Sisic was posting photos of her vacation in the Balkans. Her last Instagram post was on August 12th. She was only 22 years old.
