SUPER MODEL STELLA FOUND DEAD AT 50
THE fashion world was in shock last night after Scots supermodel Stella Tennant died suddenly five days after her 50th birthday.
Stella, who had split from her husband this year, was found dead at a house in Duns, Berwickshire.
The cause of death was not confirmed but police said there were no suspicious circumstances.
The mum of four was one of the original “supermodels”, rising to fame with the likes of Kate Moss.
Stella, a member of an aristocratic family, modelled for designers including Versace, Alexander McQueen and Jean-Paul Gaultier. Karl Lagerfeld, who died last year, named her as the face of Chanel in the 90s.
Yesterday, Versace was one of the first to pay tribute to her.
On its official Twitter feed, the Italian fashion house said: “Versace is mourning the death of Stella Tennant. St e l l a was Gianni Versace’s muse for many years and friend of the family. We will miss you forever, Stella. Rest In Peace.”
In a statement, her family said: “It is with great sadness we announce the sudden death of Stella Tennant on 22nd December 2020.
“Stella was a wonderful woman and an inspiration to us all. She will be greatly missed.”
Stella, who grew up near Hawick, was the granddaughter of the 11th Duke of Devonshire, Andrew Cavendish, and Deborah Mitford, the youngest of the six famous upper crust sisters.
The former art student shot to fame after being spotted by Vogue photographer Steven Meisel, who got her to pose for a shoot in 1993. She pioneered the “pixie” look with her cropped locks and boyish figure.
She went on to walk catwalks for fashion’s biggest names, posed for magazines such as French, British and Italian Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and shot adverts for brands including Calvin Klein, Burberry and Hermes.
Lagerfeld adopted her as his “muse”, awarded her an exclusive modelling contract for Chanel and compared her looks to Coco Chanel’s.
She was of the models who represented the British fashion industry during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.
That year, Stella was also inducted
We will miss you forever, Stella. Rest in Peace VERSACE FASHION HOUSE’S STATEMENT