A beauty queen who held the title for Ms Alabama has died from injuries she sustained eight days ago in a tragic accident.
Heartbroken relatives confirmed on social media today that Zoe Sozo Bethel, 20, passed away at 5.30am on Friday morning.
In an emotional social media post, her family shared photographs of the beauty queen and said she “touched the hearts of many”.
Zoe's tragic death was announced just days after she sustained a head injury in an accident that left her in a coma.
Writing on her Instagram, the family said: "Zoe had an accident Thursday night, February 10th, & sustained severe damage to her brain/brainstem & is in a coma."
The message continued: “Unfortunately, the doctors are saying the damage cannot be repaired and that she may not have much time left.”
Relatives provided no further information on the type of accident Zoe was involved in.
Weeks before she died Zoe shared a hopeful message about how precious life is on her Instagram.
She wrote: "One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying."
At the time, a fundraiser was shared asking donors to help with Zoe’s medical bills and for funds to go towards her daughter’s future.
At the time of writing, the page had raised $41,000 (£30,000) towards its goal.
Further to her beauty career, Zoe was seen as a "rising star" in conservative US politics and was involved with organisations like Project Veritas and Turning Point USA, the Heavy reported.
She was also the brand ambassador and executive producer of Miss Liberty USA.
