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Australian model Annalise Braakensiek found dead in her Sydney apartment

Model and actress Annaliese Braakensiek has been found dead in her apartment
Model and actress Annaliese Braakensiek has been found dead in her apartment

Australian model Annalise Braakensiek has been found dead in her Sydney apartment.

Police were called to the 46-year-old's property in the suburb of Potts Point on Sunday afternoon after concerns were raised by friends.

There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death, according to Sky News Australia.

Braakensiek featured in advertising campaigns and on magazine covers in Australia, the US, UK and Italy among others, since being discovered aged 16 by a photographer on Sydney's Bondi beach.

As an actor she appeared on Australian game shows, comedies and soaps, including Home and Away.

Between 2002 and 2003 she was co-host of UK game show Play Your Cards Right.

She also designed underwear and jewellery and worked with cancer and animal welfare charities.

Later she became an ambassador for RUOK Day, which encourages people to ask the question of those close to them who might be struggling.

Braakensiek split from husband Danny Goldberg last year after 16 years
Braakensiek split from husband Danny Goldberg last year after 16 years

On their website she wrote: "I urge you to remember that even the smallest gesture, the simple sincere question of R U OK? can quite literally turn a life around.

"Listen to your gut and keep checking in with anyone one you're worried about."

Braakensiek had her own struggles with mental health and posted on Instagram in December that life's challenges had been "deep, dark, difficult, demanding and downright scary lately".

In 2017 she told the Sydney Morning Herald that she had struggled to deal with the deaths of people close to her.

"I couldn't get out of bed," she said. "I think I spent about six weeks in bed.

"I couldn't do anything but cry my heart out - it was a very frightening feeling."

At the time she had sought help from close family and used cognitive behavioural therapy and a healthy lifestyle in an effort to recover.

View this post on Instagram

The answer is blowing in the wind...... Hanging in there by the hair on my chiny chin chin.... 😜 Sheesh it’s been a challenging year for so many of us, am I right?!?! My biggest challenge was not having my own home (for a year now)!!!!?!! As you know I L❤️VE to cook organic meat free @annalisewithlovelunch creations and I can not wait to get back into my own kitchen again in just a few weeks!!! 🚀 🌿 🌶 I am uber grateful for all the legends who have taken me under their wings this past year, and into their hearts and homes @gina_b21 and family especially. 🙏🏼💙 The rest you know who you are. I love you. Beyond. Including my bestie in heaven. A day doesn’t go by when I don’t think about you 😓 I don’t know what I’d do without you all 🙏🏼 And I promise as soon as I move into my new abode I’ll be back to cooking, sharing my new jewellery designs and being a general all round mega Vikingess! 💪 🦄🌈 In the meantime for all of you who have asked....as of next Wednesday I will be able to fulfill my signature jewellery design orders again!!!!!! #yay!!!! Just in time for Christmas 🎄 DM me re new designs not yet shown or up on my site and check out my jewellery gallery at link in bio and use my F&F code “mylovelies” for 25% discount .... sharing the love 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙 And love the team who shot this campaign and can’t wait to shoot my new collection soon! 🙌🌈 📷 my talented sister @beccafitzgerald_photo Cruelty free @ereperezcosmetics 💄 by the magical @the_travelling_artist Hair: @originalmineral natural colour styled by the insanely fab @yadgiahair Brows by the best: @parlourb Vegan facial by the amazing @dermaglow_medi_spa and styled by the most divine and talented @stephmalizisstylist for @cmstylists . .magical day your way my lovelies 🙌💫🌙✨⚡️🔥 . . #annalisebraakensiek #jewellery #designer #jewelry #model #vegetarian #cook #jewellerydesigner #boholuxe #bohostyle #ecofriendly #handmade #madewithlove #mydesigns #lovelunch #2018 #bringon2019 #wegotthis #love #strength #support

A post shared by Annalise Braakensiek (@annalisewithlove) on Dec 4, 2018 at 10:38am PST

She said anyone could be affected by mental health problems, adding "success doesn't come into it".

She split from husband stockbroker Danny Goldberg last year after 16 years, posting on Instagram: "I don't know if a broken heart mends or learns to live in pieces".

RUOK chief executive Brendan Maher said the organisation was "still processing" the news.

"Nothing we have ever asked of Annalise was too much, she has stepped up time and time again to share our message, even when she was going through her own tough times," he told the ABC.

"We couldn't have asked for a more genuine, kind and sincere spokesperson."

:: If you feel emotionally distressed or suicidal please call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.