Full Breakdown
Lucia Sisic, Miss Austria 2024, Dies at 22
9/9/2026, 10:38:57 PM
Core Event
On September 8 2026, Lucia Sisic, the reigning Miss Austria 2024, was found dead at the age of 22. The pageant organization Mission Austria confirmed the death in a social-media post on September 7 2026. No official cause of death has been released.
Background & Context
Sisic won Miss Vienna in January 2024 and was crowned Miss Austria later that year during Vienna Fashion Week. Because no subsequent national contest has been held, she remained the titleholder through 2025 and 2026, and was slated to represent Austria at Miss Universe 2026.
Born with a congenital heart-valve defect, Sisic underwent her first cardiac surgery shortly after birth. Over the next two decades she endured a total of seven heart operations, the most recent occurring in the winter of 2025.
Data & Statistics
- Age at death: 22 years.
- Heart-valve defect: congenital, present from birth.
- Surgeries: seven cardiac procedures; one at age 13 required resuscitation, and the latest was performed in winter 2025.
Official Statements & Responses
Mission Austria posted a translated statement on its Facebook page on September 7 2026, expressing “great shock and deep sorrow” over Sisic’s passing. The message, signed by CEO Kerstin Rigger and her husband Jörg Rigger, described her as “a wonderful young woman” and offered condolences to her family, friends, and supporters.
The Austrian charity Herzkinder Österreich, which supports children with heart conditions, also issued a tribute noting that Sisic “left us far too soon.” No medical authority or coroner’s report has been cited, and the organization refrained from linking her death to her longstanding cardiac condition.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I find it difficult to find the right words to express my gratitude, because a simple thank you is far from enough.” — Miss Austria Lucia Sisic
- “She was like a sister to me, especially during the time we held the [title] together. We will all miss her very much,” — Denng
- “We will remember Lucia as a wonderful young woman.” — Mission Austria
- “But the memory of you will stay with us forever. May God take you into his kingdom and give your parents and family the strength to bear this immeasurable pain. Rest in God’s peace, our dear angel.” — Mister Austria Christopher Dengg
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All outlets agree that the cause of death remains undisclosed. Some reports specify that Sisic’s last surgery took place in “winter 2025,” while others describe it as occurring in “late 2025.” No autopsy results or official medical explanations have been made public, leaving the exact circumstances of her death unverified.
What’s Next
With no successor appointed, Austria currently lacks a delegate for the Miss Universe 2026 competition scheduled for November 2026. Pageant officials have not announced any plan to select a replacement, meaning the nation may sit out the international event.
