Tatjana Patitz’s death cause has been revealed. Her agent said that the ’90s supermodel died on Wednesday morning after a battle with breast cancer. She was 56 years old.
“It goes without saying that we are all devastated by her passing,” Patitz’s agent says. “She was a compassionate soul, a kind and generous heart, and an outspoken supporter of animal rights.”
Patitz’s animal advocacy included helping to save wild horses. Donations in her memory can be made to Return to Freedom, a national wild horse conservation organization.
At the age of 17, the German-born, Swedish-raised model entered a modeling competition. Patitz rose to fame after capturing the lens of famed fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh a few years later.
Patitz went on to cover magazines alongside Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, and Cindy Crawford. The women, dubbed “The Original Supermodels,” were also featured in George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90” music video.
Patitz has collaborated with top fashion photographers such as Herb Ritts and Patrick Demarchelier throughout her career.
Vogue’s global editorial director, Anna Wintour, paid tribute to Patitz after her death, calling her “the European symbol of chic.”
“She was far less visible than her peers — more mysterious, more grown-up, more unattainable — and that had its own appeal,” Wintour said of Patitz.
Patitz leaves behind a son, a sister, and her parents.
