Reigning Miss Austria Lucia Sisic dies at 22 following congenital heart condition

Announcement of death and initial tributes

Mission Austria, the organisation responsible for the Miss Austria and Mister Austria pageants, confirmed the death of 22-year-old Lucia Sisic on Monday via social media. Sisic held the national title continuously following her victory in 2024. Chief executive Kerstin Rigger and her husband Jörg expressed their sorrow publicly, offering condolences to her family and friends. While authorities have not released an official medical report detailing the precise cause of death, Austrian media reported that she succumbed to complications stemming from a lifelong cardiac ailment. Mister Austria Christopher Dengg, who served alongside Sisic, reacted to the news with grief.

I am deeply shocked. She was like a sister to me, especially in the time when we held office together. She will be greatly missed by all of us.

Lifelong medical history and surgeries

Sisic lived with a congenital heart valve defect from birth, requiring immediate surgical intervention as a newborn. Throughout her life, she underwent seven cardiac procedures. During one surgery at age 13, she experienced severe complications requiring emergency resuscitation. In late 2025, she completed her seventh procedure and shared her relief with followers, stating that she hoped to enjoy several years without further hospital stays. She frequently discussed how chronic hospitalisation shaped her upbringing, choosing to encourage other patients rather than seek pity.

Sports weeks went on without me. My childhood was simply different, but that also made me strong.

Pageant career and public advocacy

Sisic was born in Vienna to parents with roots in the Bosanska Posavina region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. She entered pageantry by winning the Miss Vienna competition before securing the Miss Austria crown in 2024. Because organizers did not hold subsequent editions of the national pageant due to a lack of sponsors, Sisic remained the active titleholder until her death. She used her title to advocate for pediatric health, sharing photos of her surgical scars on Instagram to normalize cardiac illness and motivate young patients.

In August 2024, Sisic published a dedicated note of gratitude to the pediatric cardiology team that managed her early care.

Thanks to the dedicated specialists and doctors who, at the cost of great effort, saved my life repeatedly, I was able to overcome many difficult moments and lead a meaningful life.

Community mourning and tributes

News of her passing prompted tributes from community figures and civic groups across the country. Family friend Miroslav Piplica was among the first to announce her death publicly on social media, honoring her kindness and warmth. The Croatian cultural community in Austria, which used the spelling Lucija Šišić, published messages praising her representation of her heritage. An Austrian charity supporting children with heart defects also issued a statement mourning her premature death at age 22. Sisic had traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina for a family holiday approximately three weeks before her death, sharing photographs from the trip with her online audience.