Tatjana Patitz, one of the original supermodels, has died aged 56.
Her agent confirmed the news to DailyMail.com, but the time and cause of her death is unknown.
Hamburg-born Patitz starred alongside Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford on the cover of British Vogue for the January issue in 1990.
It has become one of the most iconic fashion images of all time, with Patitz making the cover of US vogue on her own in the same month as the original crew.
She also starred in a George Michael music video, ‘Freedom!’ from 1990, with the same group of models from the infamous British Vogue cover.
Sad loss for fashion: Cover girl Tatjana Patitz – who was one of the top supermodels of the 1980s and 1990s – has died at the age of 56, DailyMail.com can confirm. The star’s agent at the Model CoOp in New York City confirmed the sad news to DailyMail.com on Wednesday morning, saying Tatjana had recently passed. Vogue magazine was first to break the news
A stunner: The siren was often on the cover of Vogue. The 5ft11in star was beloved by the photographer Herb Ritts
The stunning model appeared in British Vogue’s’ 1985 October issue and appeared on the cover six times before the infamous supers cover, which was captured by Peter Lindbergh.
She was shot by the famous photographer many times over a 30-year period and appeared on Vogue’s October covers with Helena Christensen and Karen Alexander in 2016.
After appearing on the famed January 1990 issue, she also worked on campaigns for Chanel, Calvin Klein and Versace.
Anna Wintour, chief content officer of Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue, said: ‘Tatjana was always the European symbol of chic, like Romy Schneider-meets-Monica Vitti.
‘She was far less visible than her peers—more mysterious, more grown-up, more unattainable—and that had its own appeal.’
Creative director of Vogue Grace Coddington regarded Patitz as one of the original supermodels, she wrote in her 2012 memoir.
Patitz was born in Hamburg to an Estonian mother and German father. The family then moved to Skanör in Sweden.
Motherly love: The supermodel attended a perfume launch for Dior with her son Jonah Patitz in September 2022
Sing it: The Hamburg-born beauty was best known for her work with Vogue as well as her starring role in the George Michael music video Freedom from 1990 with pals Cindy Crawford , Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington
Now and then: Seen on the left for Chanel in 2017 and on the right in 1991 for Christian Dior
At the age of 17 in 1983 she entered an Elite Model Contest in Stockholm. She placed third in Sweden. The prize was a trip to Paris and a limited-time contract.
The siren went on to model for Versace and Chanel, often appearing in print ads and on runways. She was also on many magazine covers for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle and Marie Claire.
After she starred in Freedom with Cindy, Christy, Naomi and Linda, the girls were dubbed the ‘supermodels of the 1990s’ and often worked together thereafter.
Background: She was born in Hamburg to an Estonian mother and German father. The family then moved to Skanör in Sweden. At the age of 17 in 1983 she entered an Elite Model Contest in Stockholm. She placed third in Sweden. The prize was a trip to Paris and a limited-time contract. Seen left in 1991 in Paris for Chanel and right in 1992 for Chanel
Pretty woman: The siren went on to model for Versace and Chanel, often appearing in print ads and on runways. She was also on many magazine covers for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Marie Claire. Seen in the 90s
She brought the drama: Here she is seen in yet another Vogue cover; she lived in the US and spent time in Montana
Tatjana had also starred in the film for Duran Duran’s song Skin Trade, and even tried her hand at making movies, featuring as a murder victim in 1993 Sean Connery flick Rising Sun.
In 2000, she appeared in the Korn music video for the song Make Me Bad.
She also worked for 30 years with acclaimed photographer Peter Lindbergh.
In his book, 10 Women, Lindbergh wrote, ‘I admire Tatjana because she always stays herself. She’s very soft, but at the same time she’s very strong and knows how to stand up for what she thinks, and it’s always very enriching to be with her. It’s impossible not to admire her and over the years not to be just a little bit in love with her.’
Another famous friend: Seen with Bo Derek at the Raffaello Summer Day 2014 at Kronprinzenpalais in Berlin, Germany
Some close pals: from left, Karena Alexander, Patitz and Milla Jovovich attend photographer Peter Lindbergh Book Signing for A Different Vision On Fashion Photography at the TASCHEN Gallery in Los Angeles in 2016
Walking the walk: In Italy at the Etro show at Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2019/20 in February 2019
The star worked up until recent years: In 2019 she stormed Milan when she walked the runway for Etro.
Patitz was an avid equestrian who learned to ride horses at age seven. She said, ‘I have been riding since I was a small child. For me, it means freedom, connectedness, and dedication. Horses transform stress and worry for me. They are genuine and spiritual. They make me happy and relaxed, especially if I feel pressured or tense.’
The beauty used to date Heidi Klum’s ex Seal former Bond star Pierce Brosnan and before that Nick Kamen.
She is survived by her son Jonah Johnson. The star was wed to Jonah’s father Jason Johnson from 2003 until 2009.
With some pretty pals: Seen with Toni Garrn, Nadja Auermann and Julia Stegner during the WMF world premiere at Haus der Kunst in April 2022 in Munich, Germany
