Miss Alabama for America Strong 2021 Passes Away After Spending Eight Days In A Coma Following Accident

Miss Alabama for America Strong 2021, Zoe Sozo Bethel, passed away on Friday, eight days after an accident that landed her in a coma. 

“On Friday, February 18, 2022, at approximately 5:30 a.m. eastern time in Miami, Florida, our beloved Zoe Sozo Bethel passed from this life into the next as a result of succumbing to her injuries,” her family wrote in a post caption on Bethel’s Instagram page.

Miss Alabama for America Pageants and The Mrs. Alabama America organization also confirmed Bethel’s death to NBC News.

On Feb. 10, Bethel had an accident where she suffered severe damage to her brain that put her in a coma. Bethel’s family stated in a separate Instagram post on her account. 

“Zoe touched the hearts of many people,” relatives added, they also stated that her accident “has been an abrupt and very traumatizing situation for our family.”

Outside of being Miss Alabama, Bethel was also a political commentator for a conservative media company Right Side Broadcasting Network, involved at Liberty University’s Falkirk Center, and a brand ambassador for Turning Point USA, her family stated. 

On February 18th, 2022, the world lost a queen,” The Mrs. Alabama America and Miss Alabama for America Pageants said in a statement. “She was a light in this world and we are heartbroken over the loss of such a bright and beautiful woman. Rest in grace and love, sweet one,” the statement added. 

Bethel’s death happened not even a month after Miss USA 2019 Chelsie Kryst died by suicide at the age of 30.

Specific details on what type of accident caused Zoe Bethel’s death has still not been released from the family.