Sahara Ray's Friend Speaks Out After Her Death at 34: 'Admired Is Not the Same as Understood'

Sahara Ray, the model and swimwear designer, died Sunday in Los Angeles at 34 after a reported suspected fentanyl overdose. Her family says she passed away surrounded by loved ones at a hospital after being removed from life support, and her official cause of death has not been confirmed. Ray gave birth to her daughter Snow in January, just 11 months before her death.

Her close friend Jessica Serfaty, who met Ray on the set of DNCE’s“Cake by the Ocean”video in 2015, said Ray had struggled with her mental health in recent years and that her mom Gretchen and friends worked to build a circle of support around her.“It was heartbreaking to witness someone we loved so deeply experience so much pain,”Serfaty said, adding,“I think we sometimes confuse being admired with being understood, or being surrounded by people with feeling connected to them.”

Ray, the daughter of surfer Tony Ray, previously dated Justin Bieber, Mod Sun and Cody Simpson. But the legacy her family and friends are pointing to is bigger than the headlines. It’s a reminder that a beautiful life on a screen can hide a very hard one off it. Who in your life could use a real check-in this week?