Tatjana Patitz

German-born model rose to fame in the 1980s and later starred in George Michael's Freedom! '90 video.

It’s impossible not to admire her and over the years not to be just a little bit in love with her.” Outspoken, too, about the dangers the industry had on the new generation, in 2009 she told the Guardian: “It would be nice if models were allowed to be a more healthy weight – for the models, and for the young women who look up to them. 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. Known for his preference for a “natural” look and resistance to retouching images, the German photographer shot Patitz in his “White Shirts: Six Supermodels, Malibu,” for Vogue in 1988 before shooting her for the famous 1990 cover. Despite coming of age with some of the most famous models in the world – it was also in 1990 that Linda Evangelista claimed her cohorts wouldn’t wake up for less than $10,000 (£8,200) a day – Patitz was not interested in living in New York or Paris, instead buying a ranch on the west coast. The prize was a trip to Paris and a short-term contract.

Supermodel Tatjana Patitz, who appeared in George Michael's “Freedom! '90” music video and on many Vogue covers, has died at the age of 56.

Again in 2019, the mother and son made an appearance in a Tina Barney portfolio. And I was going to make it because of that.” “Tatjana was always the European symbol of chic, like Romy Schneider-meets-Monica Vitti,” remembered Anna Wintour, chief content officer of Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue. Born in Hamburg to an Estonian mother and German father, she moved with her family to Skanör, an idyllic seaside town in the south of Sweden when she was quite young. Geography aside, there was a certain element of mystery to Patitz’s beauty, something in the gentle oval of her face and the shape of her eyes that spoke of self-possession and passion. The prize was a trip to Paris and a limited-time contract.

Supermodel Tatjana Patitz, who starred in George Michael's 'Freedom '90' music video, dies at age 56 · Model began her career at 17, when she entered an Elite ...

“Tatjana was always the European symbol of chic, like Romy Schneider-meets-Monica Vitti,” Wintour said. There, the model would begin her modelling career at age 17 when she entered an Elite Model Contest. On social media, the Peter Lindbergh Foundation posted a tribute to Patitz, writing: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tatjana Patitz, a long-time friend of Peter’s.

Having appeared on the front cover of 1990s British Vogue, Patitz also featured in numerous music videos including George Michael's Freedom! '90.

Sending my condolences to her family - especially the son she adored. Her love of animals and nature was infectious. "There was a real era, and the reason that happened was because glamour was brought into it," she was quoted as saying in Prestige Hong Kong magazine. '90, alongside fellow models Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell. Crawford, who appeared in Michael's video alongside Patitz, posted a picture of the two of them on Instagram, writing that she was "so sad" to hear of the passing of her friend. She was part of an elite handful of "original supermodels" and starred in the music video for Michael's 1990s hit Freedom!

Model Tatjana Patitz has died, aged 56, her modelling agency has announced. No cause of death has been revealed. The German-born model was living in ...

Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue, said: "Tatjana was always the European symbol of chic, like Romy Schneider-meets-Monica Vitti... Patitz, who rose to fame in the 1990s, became one of the decade's most prominent supermodels. No cause of death has been revealed.

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 ...

It's impossible not to admire her and over the years not to be just a little bit in love with her.' 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. I had to kind of slide up and down the wall for part of the day. And I was going to make it because of that.' She was also on many magazine covers for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle and Marie Claire. The prize was a trip to Paris and a limited-time contract. George Michael saw the cover and invited all of the girls to star in his music video A stunner: The siren was often on the cover of Vogue. Our thoughts go to her loved ones and particularly Jonah. She was also on many magazine covers for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Marie Claire. Seen in the 90s With love to Tatjana Patitz and family.'

She was 56. Patitz died Wednesday from breast cancer, her agent Corinne Nicolas told CNN. She's survived by her son, Jonah. The German-born model appeared on ...

[Mexican magazine Milenio](https://www.milenio.com/estilo/moda-y-belleza/tatjana-patitz-modelo-convirtio-defensora-mustang)in 2021 that she was involved in California legislation to protect wild horses and has been involved with the American Wild Horse Campaign, which works to protect public lands. Patitz told Milenio she preferred to live a lower-key life than her fellow supermodels and enjoyed "being surrounded by nature, away from concrete and noise" with her son and their animals. She was just one face among a sea of supermodels for Vogue's 100th anniversary cover in 1992, all of them dressed identically in white jeans and white button-down shirts tied at the midriff. She also appeared with her son Jonah in a 2012 shoot at their California home. [iconic 1990 British Vogue](https://www.vogue.com/article/supermodel-tatjana-patitz-best-in-vogue)cover, also shot by Lindbergh -- Patitz, one of the "original" supermodels of that era, appeared alongside Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, [Naomi Campbell](https://www.cnn.com/style/article/naomi-campbell-british-vogue-intl-scli/index.html)and [Linda Evangelista](https://www.cnn.com/style/article/linda-evangelista-british-vogue-cover/index.html). Her appearance, she said, wasn't just beautiful; it was memorable and evocative. Her piercing gaze gave her a slightly more otherworldly look, according to observations from those in the industry. '90" which also became a [cultural artifact](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/30/fashion/george-michael-freedom-video.html). [1990 Harper's Bazaar](https://web.archive.org/web/20160822180320/https://postimg.org/image/edb7hwd8v/)story: "Indeed, Patitz's features almost confuse. The German-born model appeared on dozens of covers for Vogue and countless other fashion magazines beginning in the 1980s. It was around this time that she became the muse of photographer Peter Lindbergh, for whom she'd model until the 2010s. (Cindy Crawford was also a finalist that year, per Elite.)

The German-born Patitz was among an elite group of famed fashion supermodels who graced magazine covers. She famously appeared in George Michael's "Freedom!

"There was a real era, and the reason that happened was because glamour was brought into it," she was quoted as saying in Prestige Hong Kong magazine. The magazine quoted its global editorial director, Anna Wintour, as saying Patitz was "always the European symbol of chic, like Romy Schneider-meets-Monica Vitti. Nicolas said the cause was illness, but did not have further details.

One of the five original "supermodels", Tatjana also starred in George Michael's iconic Freedom '90 music video.

“I had to kind of slide up and down the wall for part of the day. “We were in so many shoots together and backstage at shows. “She was compassionate soul, kind and generous of heart and an avid advocate of animal rights. “She is survived by her son, her sister, and her parents. The feel of the set was so run-down, this big, loft kind of vibe. I found her soft-spoken, sensitive, kind, inquisitive and, who could ever forget those piercing eyes.