Supermodel Tatjana Patitz Dies at 56
Tatjana Patitz was considered one of "The Big 5" supermodels, alongside Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista.
On January 11, 2023, '90s supermodel Tatjana Patitz passed away at the age of 56, her New York agency has confirmed.
Patitz was not a "face du jour" or the look of a specific era, although she helped define it. She was a classically ethereal beauty surrounded by a pinch of mystery. Her scrutinizing gaze captivated everyone—whether she was looking at you from gigantic billboards or from the pages of a fashion magazine. Especially in black and white, the effect of her eyes seemed to be multiplied, which is also reflected in the fact that the most famous photos of the native of Hamburg are monochrome.
Like her supermodel colleagues from the '90s—also known as "The Big 5"—she was seen in George Michael's legendary "Freedom! 90" video and stood in front of the camera for Herb Ritts, Peter Lindbergh, Michel Comte, or Ellen von Unwerth before settling down on her California ranch with her son Jonah, away from the big fashion hype.
Following the news of her death, many of Patitz's supermodel friends have taken to social media to remember her. Naomi Campbell wrote on Instagram, "Tatiana Patitz...earth angel, kind, generous, shy, lover of animals sometimes more than people. When I met you at 16 at the Alaia show, I remember just saying 'wow!!' Your presence and stature. Your eyes and nervous shy smile, goddess energy that we were all drawn to…My first time in LA I got to experience it with you, showing me the sites and beaches, driving around in your red Volkswagen convertible."
She continued, "Blaring the Sign of the Times… It was that trip where you introduced me to Herb Ritts, who called you Tatski. I’ll forever be grateful and cherish the beautiful memories.
My deepest condolences to Jonah, Sophie, family and loved ones. May you have eternal peace… You’re up with Papa."
Cindy Crawford shared a vintage photo of the pair with the caption, "So sad to hear of the passing of the beautiful [Tatjana Patitz]. We were babies together in the fashion industry and I feel like we grew up together. We were in so many shoots together and backstage at shows. I found her soft-spoken, sensitive, kind, inquisitive and, who could ever forget those piercing eyes. Her love of animals and nature was infectious. Sending my condolences to her family — especially the son she adored. RIP."
Reflecting on one of her favorite memories of Patitz, Christy Turlington opened up about their first photo shoot together. "I was a 16 year old high school student from Northern California who was permitted to leave school to travel alone to Paris for the first time for this special opportunity. I would stay at the Hotel Crillon for a night before meeting up with the rest of the team on location the following day," explained the model. "Tatjana was already living in Paris at the time and had been given the assignment, or chore, of collecting me on the way to the airport. My first introduction to Tatjana was over the hotel lobby phone. “Where are you? We are going to be late!” She said. I was sad to leave my beautiful room after such a short stay but definitely did not want to get on the bad side of anyone. Not on this trip, and especially not Tatjana Patitz. It wasn’t until we got to Charles de Gaulle that she started to relax and speak to me. By the time we got to our hotel in Cannes, she invited me to her hotel room, where we drank mini bar champagne, ate Toblerone chocolates and smoked cigarettes while she talked to her French boyfriend over the phone."
Turlington concluded, "Tatjana took me in, under her wing. I stayed in her apartment for a night in Paris on my way home on the floor of her cool pied de terre on the left bank. You are unforgettable and are forever in my heart."
