Fashion stars Donatella Versace and Cartia Mallan have led the heartfelt celebrity tributes to Australia’s Next Top Model star Lucy Markovic, after she died from a brain arteriovenous malformation on Friday, aged just 27.
Italian fashion designer Donatella, 69, shared a precious pH๏τo of Lucy walking the runway at a glamorous show and captioned it with some heartbreaking words.
‘I am so sorry to hear about Lucy. Rest in peace, beautiful girl,’ Donatella wrote and added a white dove emoji.
Lucy, who was runner up on season 9 of the reality TV series, died from a AVM after she underwent emergency surgery before she went into a coma earlier this week.
Fashion model Cartia Mallan also shared a tribute to Lucy, writing: ‘Heartbroken to say the least. My beautiful friend Lucy sadly pᴀssed today after putting up a strong fight.
‘I can’t even put into words how kind, radiant and caring she was as a human. Not to mention how insanely beautiful and talented she was.
Fashion stars Donatella Versace and Cartia Mallan have led the heartfelt celebrity tributes to Australia’s Next Top Model star Lucy Markovic, after her tragic death at 27
Italian fashion designer Donatella, 69, shared a precious pH๏τo of Lucy walking the runway at a glamorous show and captioned it with some heartbreaking words
‘All my love to her family during this time. I can’t even fathom this, she was so young. Deeply blessed to have known her. Rest in peace my angel girl.’
Elsewhere, Australian model Amelia Ross shared a sweet throwback pH๏τo of them and captioned it with some precious words: ‘Rest in peace. Your biggest supporter forever.
‘Does not feel real. Gone too soon.’
Influencer Jamie Azzopardi joined the chorus with a sweet tribute, writing: ‘It feels like just yesterday I was watching you strut down a catwalk like the heavenly angel you are.
‘If I’d known then that this was the last time, I would have hugged you тιԍнтer and laughed louder.’
Model Alex Consani wrote ‘Rest in peace angel’ and The Bachelor star Bella Varelis added: ‘Devastating. Sending so much love.’
Social media star Elisha Herbert added: ‘Sweetest girl to walk the earth. Our angel forever.’
News of Lucy’s death was announced by her partner via her Instagram Story on Friday.
‘Dear friends and family, I regret to inform you that Lucy has pᴀssed,’ the statement read.
‘I am so sorry to hear about Lucy. Rest in peace, beautiful girl,’ Donatella wrote and added a white dove emoji
Lucy had a brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and had to undergo emergency surgery before she went into a coma earlier this week
Lucy previously revealed her AVM was the size of a golf ball
Following her stint on Australia’s Next Top Model in 2015, Lucy walked the runway for major labels like Versace, Givenchy and Dion Lee (Pictured at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 2017)
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‘She was at peace. Me, her mother and my mother were with her.
‘We ask you to please give us space in these hard times. May Lucy rest in peace.’
Lucy previously revealed her AVM was the size of a golf ball.
AVMs are abnormal tangles of blood vessels which can cause irregular connections between the arteries and veins – which often develop in the spinal cord and brain.
Hours prior to her death, Lucy’s partner revealed she was fighting for her life and begged fans to pray for the star.
‘Lucy is currently battling for her life, we need all your prayers right now,’ he wrote.
Her management, Elite Model Management NYC, also made a statement on social media.
‘We are heartbroken to share that Lucy Markovic has pᴀssed away after a brave battle with a brain AVM,’ they said.
Fashion model Cartia Mallan also shared a tribute to Lucy, writing: ‘Heartbroken to say the least. My beautiful friend Lucy sadly pᴀssed today after putting up a strong fight’
Elsewhere, Australian model Amelia Ross shared a sweet throwback pH๏τo of them and captioned it with some precious words
Influencer Jamie Azzopardi joined the chorus with a sweet tribute
News of her death was announced by her partner via her Instagram Story on Friday
‘Lucy was a bright shining light, and had an incredible dry sense of humour. Her smile and laughter could light up a room, and draw you closer to her. She loved to dance, she really shined.
WHAT ARE ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATIONS?
An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a specific term used to describe a tangle of blood vessels with abnormal connections between arteries and veins.
High pressure arteries containing fast flowing blood are directly connected to low pressure veins, which normally only contain slow flowing blood.
This means that blood from the arteries drains directly into the veins – without stopping to supply the normal tissues in that part of the body with essential substances like oxygen and nutrition.
Over time this can lead to the normal tissues becoming painful or fragile.
It also means that the AVM gets progressively larger over time as the amount of blood flowing through it increases, and it can cause problems due to its size.
Finally, it may also mean that the heart has to work harder to keep up with the extra blood flow.
Some doctors describe an AVM as ‘a ring road that bypᴀsses the high street of a town’.
Traffic (or blood) will use the bypᴀss rather than the high street which suffers as a result.
AVMs are thought to affect approximately 1.4 in every 100,000 people.
Source: Great Ormond Street Hospital
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‘Modeling was one of Lucy’s dreams, and we are deeply honoured 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.
‘To her family and friends, please know that you are in our prayers and in our hearts. We mourn with you, and we celebrate the incredible person Lucy was. We will never forget her.’
Last month, Lucy shared a heartbreaking update regarding her AVM, revealing she would undergo surgery after suffering seizures and completing rounds of radiation.
‘Lucky + unlucky – Radiation, seizures, heavy medication and 4 years later,’ she wrote.
‘I will be undergoing brain surgery on the 26th of this month for the AVM in the back of my brain (arteriovenous malformation) that is the size of a golf ball. (Now has changed to the 2nd of April).’
The Croatian-Australian model admitted she was ‘excited, thankful, scared, supported’ and ‘hopeful’.
‘Full flood of emotions in this time. Life’s a journey and I’m ready for the next chapter,’ she added.
Following her stint on Australia’s Next Top Model in 2015, Lucy walked the runway for major labels including Versace, Givenchy and Australian brands like Dion Lee, Ksubi and Sass and Bide.
Lucy was only 17 years old when she competed on Australia’s Next Top Model, beating hundreds of other hopefuls to make it through to the grand final against fellow contestant Brittany Beattie.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph in 2017, Lucy admitted that her ‘dream gig’ was to walk the Victoria’s Secret runway.
The then 19-year-old was paired with model Megan Puleri, who graced the catwalk at the lingerie giant’s 2015 show, at the Fashion Palette 2018 Showcase in Sydney.
‘Victoria’s Secret would be the ultimate for me. It is the one that everyone fantasises about and I like that it is about being healthy and fit,’ Lucy told the publication.
Last month, Lucy shared a heartbreaking update regarding her AVM, revealing she would undergo surgery after suffering seizures and completing rounds of radiation
Having relocated from the Gold Coast to Sydney after her Australia’s Next Top Model turn, the slender brunette added that she was determined to make a name for herself.
‘I don’t think you need to win (the show), you just need determination. Top Model taught me to be more confident, which is something I think you need to be successful in the modelling industry.
‘It didn’t come easy; it was a lot of hard work to not worry about what anyone else is doing,’ Lucy added.
The Gold Coast beauty previously told Daily Mail Australia she was inspired by the show’s then-host Jennifer Hawkins, and considered entering pageants to further her modelling career.
