Just nine months after welcoming her first child, Australian model and swimwear entrepreneur Sahara Ray died at 34, leaving behind a baby daughter whose father had remained largely unknown to the public.
Now, a new report has identified Michael Bradley Dow, 38, as the man listed on the birth certificate of Ray's daughter, Snow Ray Dow, providing one of the few publicly available details about the child's paternal family.
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According to TMZ, which cited the birth certificate, Snow was born at 12:19 a.m. on January 27, 2026, at a Los Angeles hospital.
Ray, who previously attracted international attention through her modeling career and reported romance with Justin Bieber, had never publicly disclosed the identity of her daughter's father.
What is known about Michael Bradley Dow?
Despite the attention surrounding Ray's death, little verified information has emerged about Dow beyond his name, age and identification on Snow's birth certificate.
Ray had largely kept that aspect of her private life away from public attention, instead sharing occasional glimpses of motherhood with her social media followers.
In April, she introduced Snow on Instagram with a photograph accompanied by Bieber's song "Everything Hallelujah."
"Baby snow hallelujah," she wrote. Her final Instagram post, published in July, featured several photographs of her daughter and another affectionate message.
"My whole heart 🤍 baby Snow," Ray captioned the pictures.
Family remembers her following death at 34
Ray died at a Los Angeles hospital on Sunday, October 18, surrounded by loved ones, according to reports.
The Daily Mail reported that she suffered a suspected fentanyl overdose before being hospitalized and placed on life support. However, an official cause of death has not been released, and the circumstances remain unconfirmed.
Her mother, Gretchen Bach, remembered her daughter as someone whose life revolved around family, fashion and the ocean.
"Sahara was an incredibly passionate and kind young woman who loved her family, fashion, her daughter Snow, and surfing," Bach said in a statement.
"We're feeling the love that is pouring in from her cherished friends, fans and the many communities that she was part of around the world," she added.
Ray's younger sister, Ruby Ray, also honored her memory by sharing photographs from their lives together.
Final months focused on motherhood
The daughter of renowned surfer Tony Ray, Sahara established herself internationally as a model and swimwear designer before gradually withdrawing from the public spotlight.
In April 2024, she revealed that she had developed Guillain-Barré syndrome, a neurological condition that left her partially paralyzed and requiring a wheelchair.
Her daughter's arrival in January marked a significant new chapter in her life, with Ray's later social media posts reflecting her affection for Snow.
While Dow has now been identified in a reported birth record, details about his relationship with Ray remain private.