‘Original’ supermodel Tatjana Patitz, who worked with Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington, has died at the age of 56

Tatjana Patitz, one of the “original” supermodels who worked alongside the likes of Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford, has died.

The model’s death at the age of 56 was confirmed by her New York agent Corinne Nicolas.

Model CoOp agency Nicolas said Patitz was suffering from an illness but gave no further details.

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Patitz was born in Germany, grew up in Sweden and later lived in California.

She appeared in George Michael’s Freedom! ’90” music video featuring Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford.

She was a favorite of fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh, who highlighted her natural beauty in his famous 1988 photo White Shirts: Six Supermodels, Malibu and for the cover of British Vogue in 1990 – prompting Michael to credit the group in his lip-sync video cast, according to Vogue.

The magazine quoted its global editor, Anna Wintour, as saying Patitz had “always been the European icon of chic, like Romy Schneider-meets-Monica Vitti.”

“She was a lot less visible than her peers — more mysterious, more grown-up, more unattainable — and that had its own appeal,” Wintour said.

In 2004, Patitz welcomed a son, Jonah.

She also worked as an animal rights activist and took part in a memorable campaign for PETA.

For the “Rather Go Naked” campaign, Patitz posed nude alongside Emma Wiklund, Heather Stewart-Whyte, Fabienne Terwinghe and Naomi Campbell.

In a 2006 interview, Patitz spoke about how the golden age of supermodels was over.

“There was a real era and the reason for that was that glamor was brought into it,” she was quoted as saying by Prestige Hong Kong magazine.

“Now the celebrities and actresses have taken over and the models are completely in the back seat.”

She also noted that models from her time had healthier physiques.

“Women were healthy, not these skinny little models whose names nobody knows anymore,” said Patitz.

In 2019, she told 63Magazine how she felt about her changed appearance.

“I’m proud of my wrinkles. I’ve worked for everyone and they’re mine,” she said.

“It’s nice to get older. You become wiser and more mature. Giving away or exchanging this gift is not an option for me…

“Beauty means being a good person and being there for others. I think beauty isn’t just about looks, it’s about everything that makes a person.”

As news of Patitz’s death spread, Cindy Crawford was also among those paying tribute.

“So sad to hear of the passing of the beautiful @tatjanapatitz. We were babies together in fashion and I feel like we grew up together,” Crawford wrote alongside a picture of the pair.

“We’ve been on so many shoots together and backstage at shows. I found her soft-spoken, sensitive, kind, curious and who could ever forget those piercing eyes.

“Her love for animals and nature was contagious. I send my condolences to her family – especially the son she adored. REST IN PEACE”.

– with ABC

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