Sienna Weir, Miss Universe 2022 finalist and Australian model, died at the age of 23 after a tragic horse-riding accident, the New York Post reported. The model died in a horseback riding accident in her native Australia last month.
According to News.com.au, Ms Weir was riding at Windsor Polo Grounds in Australia on April 2 when her horse fell. She was reportedly on life support for several weeks for her injuries before being discharged on Thursday 4 May.
The news of her death was shared by her family, who said they had made a decision to take her off life support.
Her model agency Scoop Management also confirmed her death and shared several photos of her on Instagram on Thursday. “Forever in our hearts,” the post was captioned.
Notably, Sienna Weir was one of the 27 finalists in Australia’s Miss Universe 2022 pageant. She holds a double degree in English Literature and Psychology from Sydney University. She previously told local media that she plans to move to the UK to further her career and “spend more time with my sister, niece and nephew and expand both my professional and social network”.
The Australian fitness model had a lifelong passion for horseback riding. She told Gold Coast Magazine: “Even though I’ve lived in the city for most of my life, I have a deep and unwavering love for show jumping. My family doesn’t know exactly where this passion comes from, but I’ve been riding since I was 3 years old and I can’t imagine my life without it. I travel to rural Sydney 2-3 times a week to train and compete every other weekend in New South Wales or further afield in Australia.
Meanwhile, tributes from friends, family and colleagues in the modeling industry flooded social media, with many expressing their condolences. “You were one of the kindest souls in the world, you lit up the room and the world is a lot darker now that you’re gone,” Australian photographer Chris Dwyer wrote.
“As a fellow rider, it hurts me even more. Rest in peace,” commented another.