Australian Model Dead at 27 After Battling Rare Brain Condition

Lucy Markovic, an international model who competed on Australia’s Next Top Model and walked runways for Armani and Versace, has died after battling a rare brain condition. She was 27.

The news of her death was announced by her partner Carlo via her Instagram Story on Friday, April 11.

“Dear friends and family, I regret to inform you that Lucy has passed,” the Instagram statement read. “She was at peace. Me, her mother and my mother were present with her.

The statement concluded: “We ask you to please give us space in these hard times. May Lucy rest in peace.”

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Markovic had been battling brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a condition where abnormal blood vessels tangle and can lead to bleeding and damage to brain tissue. She had been undergoing multiple surgeries for the condition prior to her death.

The model’s management, Elite Model Management NYC, also took to social media the same day to relay the sad news of Markovic’s passing.

“We are heartbroken to share that Lucy Markovic has passed away after a brave battle with a brain AVM,” they wrote via Instagram. “Lucy was a bright shining light, and had an incredible dry sense of humor. Her smile and laughter could light up a room, and draw you closer to her. She loved to dance, she really shined.”

Elite Model Management NYC continued in their tribute: “Modeling was one of Lucy’s dreams, and we are deeply honored to have been part of that journey with her. She brought elegance, strength, and beauty to her work. But more than that, she brought herself — her warmth, her laughter, her light.”

Markovic was 16 when she competed in Australia’s Next Top Model in 2015, a reality show based on Tyra Bank’s original version, America’s Next Top Model, which ran from 2003 to 2015. Markovic placed second against eventual winner Brittany Beattie.

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Donatella Versace was among the designers to pay tribute to Markovic in the wake of her death.

“I am so sorry to hear the news about @lucymarkovicc,” Versace, 69, wrote via Instagram. “Rest in peace beautiful girl.”

Australian designer Alex Perry, who was a judge on her cycle of ANTM, told The Daily Telegraph he was “devastated” by the news.

“It is just devastating,” Perry, 62, told the outlet. “Lucy was such a beautiful girl inside and out. She was a joy to work with and so professional. And just at that age too, to have that life taken away from her is really devastating.”