Scottish supermodel Stella Tennant passed away suddenly on Tuesday, five days after her 50th birthday.
Tennant was one of the biggest models in the world, with a career spanning almost three decades that saw her walk the runway and shoot campaigns for almost every major fashion brand, working with some of the most storied photographers in the industry, and serving as muse to legendary designers like Gianni Versace, Valentino Garavani, and Karl Lagerfeld. She also starred in the 2012 London Olympic Games closing ceremony alongside fellow British supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.
Although her aristocratic heritage—as the granddaughter of Andrew Cavendish, the 11th Duke of Devonshire, and The Hon. Deborah Mitford—would have been enough to launch her fashion career, it was her androgynous look, razor-sharp features, and aura of effortless cool that first caught the eye of photographers like Steven Meisel and Bruce Weber in 1993. By the late 90s, Lagerfeld had named her the face of Chanel with an exclusive contract, noting her resemblance to the house's founder Coco Chanel. When she wasn't gracing magazine covers, Tennant was an activist promoting conservation and less consumption, with a particular focus on the environmental impact of fast fashion.
In a statement released by her family, they wrote, “It is with great sadness we announce the sudden death of Stella Tennant on 22 December 2020. Stella was a wonderful woman and an inspiration to us all. She will be greatly missed. Her family ask for their privacy to be respected. Arrangements for a memorial service will be announced at a later date.”
A police spokesman told the BBC that there were “no suspicious circumstances” surrounding her passing.
Tennant leaves behind four children, Iris, Jasmine, Cecily, and Marcel, as well as her ex-husband, photographer and osteopath David Lasnet. The pair announced in August that they had split earlier this year after 21 years of marriage.
Tributes to Tennant from brands and major figures throughout the industry have already started pouring in. "Versace is mourning the death of #StellaTennant," the brand's account tweeted on Wednesday, alongside a photo of her taken by Richard Avedon. "Stella was Gianni Versace’s muse for many years and friend of the family. We will miss you forever Stella. Rest In Peace." The New York Times Fashion Director Vanessa Friedman also tweeted her fond recollections of the model, writing, "Stella Tennant, the coolest of the aristo-models, has died. I’ll never forget seeing her walk in Helmut Lang shows. She defined off-hand chic."
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