The fashion world pays homage to supermodel Tatjana Patitz, who passed away at the age of 56.
Her manager Corinne Nicolas confirmed PEOPLE She said she died of breast cancer.
“He was survived by his son, sister, and family. We are all devastated by his death, his representative said in a statement with PEOPLE. ”
“He was a caring spirit, a kind and generous heart, and an avid advocate of animal rights. One of the main reasons he supported was the conservation of wild horses.”
The German-born model rose to fame in the 1990s after appearing on the cover of British Vogue with Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington, cementing her status as one of the five original “supermodels”.
She was also featured in George Michael’s iconic Freedom ’90 music video.
“I was in my own zone,” Tatjana told The New York Times in 2016 while filming the video.
“I had to slide up and down the wall part of the day. The feel of the set was so run-down that it had that big, penthouse vibe. There was another setup where I was lounging on a chaise lounge in a black jacket. I think I was wearing a bustier. And I was even smoking. People o He was still smoking in videos and even movies back then.”
Recalling the model at Vogue.com, Anna Wintour, head of operations at Conde Nast and global editor-in-chief of Vogue, said: “Tatjana, like Romy Schneider-meets-Monica Vitti, has always been a symbol of elegance in Europe.”
“He was much less visible than his peers, more mysterious, more mature, more inaccessible, and that had its own charm.”
Tatjana Patitz walks the runway at the Chanel Ready-to-Wear Spring/Summer 1991-1992 fashion show during Paris Fashion Week in October 1991 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Other supermodels Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen paid tribute on Instagram.
“I feel like we were babies and grew up together in the fashion industry,” Cindy wrote.
“We were together on many shoots and backstage at shows. I found him soft-spoken, sensitive, gentle, curious and penetrating, who could forget his eyes. His love for animals and nature was contagious.”
Helena wrote: “Beautiful Tatjana, you were a divine spirit from the inside out. She is always graceful and calm with those wonderful smiling eyes.
“From a young age, we went on many trips together and shared incredible memories. I loved being around him, it felt so peaceful and we always laughed a lot.
The Peter Lindbergh Foundation praised “Tatjana’s kindness, inner beauty, and extraordinary intelligence.”
“He will be immensely missed,” the foundation said in a statement.
In an interview with Vogue magazine in 1988, Tatjana attributed her success to being “like no one else”.
“People always said I looked special … And that’s why I was going to make it,” she said at the time.
His most recent runway appearance was at the Etro fashion show as part of Milan fashion week in February 2019.
He is survived by his 19-year-old son, Jonah.