Ex-Vogue model found dead in suspected suicide

Former Vogue model Raudha Athif passed away over the weekend after allegedly hanging herself from the ceiling of her dormitory room.  Photo from Imgur by Maldivian photographer Sotti

Maldivian model and medical student Raudha Athif was found lifeless in her dormitory room over the weekend, in what authorities claim was an apparent suicide.

The promising 21-year-old, who first rose to prominence in 2015 as the subject of the photo “Maldivian Girl with Aquablue Eyes,” was enrolled at the  Islami Bank Medical College in Bangladesh.

According to Yahoo News, friends discovered Athif motionlessly hanging from the ceiling of her room with a scarf tied around her neck.

Believing she was still breathing, the group cut her down and tried to resuscitate her, but their efforts were all for naught.

Although signs pointed directly to Athif claiming her own life, police have yet to rule it official until the results of the autopsy come out.

Meanwhile, relatives and loved ones had a hard time accepting the idea of Athif ending her own life.

“She always looked happy,” said Mahmuda Begum, the superintendent of the hostel. “It is hard to believe she would commit suicide.”

After gaining fame for her amazing photo, Athif entertained many modeling offers including posing for Vogue India last October, along with five other models.

Despite the instant stardom, she continued to juggle time between med school and her modeling duties.

“Modeling is a hobby rather than a career for me, since I’m studying to become a doctor,” she was quoted as saying in her interview for Vogue last year. “I’ve never been so bold as to take part in any big pageant before this.”  Khristian Ibarrola /ra/rga