Jael Strauss, who appeared on season 8 of "America's Next Top Model," was 34.
“America’s Next Top Model" contestant Jael Strauss has passed away after battling breast cancer. She was 34.
A GoFundMe page for Strauss confirmed she died Tuesday, about two months after she first announced she had stage IV breast cancer.
“Today we lost our earth angel and she is back in the spirit world from which she came and we know she will be watching over all of us,” the page read. “She will dance at how we celebrate her life by spreading the love that she lived by daily with a reckless abandon.”
Strauss, who appeared on season 8 of the series, entered hospice on Nov. 22, according to reports.
A month ago she wrote an update on her GoFundMe, saying that she was “so grateful, especially for the little things like being able to get out of bed by myself, go to the restroom by myself. My swelling has been going down- my feet are smaller and don’t look like footballs anymore.
"Things have been steadily improving since the last update. I feel better, but nowhere near how it used to be. I’m not out of the woods yet.”
She had also said in a Facebook post that she did not want to die and shared video of herself on Instagram getting her head shaved.
Jaslene Gonzalez, who won the year that Strauss appeared on "America's Next Top Model," expressed her sadness at the loss on Twitter.
Strauss’ family is asking people to continue donating to the GoFundMe to help with the cost of her funeral and remaining medical expenses.
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