Tatjana Patitz, a model for fashion from Germany. She gained recognition on a global scale as a spokesperson of fashion designers in the 1980s and 1990s by making appearances in editorials and on the covers of publications like Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue. She was one of five supermodels featured in the 1990 music video for “Freedom!
A Brief History
Patitz was raised in Skanör, Sweden, despite the fact that his parents were from West Germany. Her German father was a travel writer, therefore the family frequently relocated. Patitz’s mother was an Estonian dancer who worked at the Le Lido in Paris.
When Patitz’s parents met, her mother was a student travelling with a modern dance group; according to Patitz, theirs was a classic case of two people meeting, falling in love, and resolving to spend the rest of their lives together. Patitz began horseback riding when he was seven years old. She spent the summers at her family’s holiday home on the island of Mallorca, where she attended equestrian camps.
“I first rode a horse when I was a toddler,” Patitz said of her love of horses. For me, the phrase has personal connotations that include devotion, connectivity, and independence. For me, being around horses works like a magic spell to calm my nerves. I believe them because of their sincerity and spirituality. They bring me happiness and comfort, especially when I’m stressed out.
When Did Tatjana Patitz Pass Away, and What Brought About Her Demise?
Tatjana Patitz died on Wednesday, January 11th from metastatic breast cancer. After a family spokesperson gave the reason of death to Vogue, the late model’s agent, Corinne Nicolas, confirmed it to CNN. Jonah Patitz, her 19-year-old son, is the only member of her family who is still alive.
In the Early Days of Supermodels, Tatjana Patitz Was a Pioneer
In 1966, Tatjana Patitz was born in Hamburg, Germany, to an Estonian mother and a German father. When she was 17 years old, she competed in an Elite Modeling Contest in Stockholm, Sweden, and came in third. But it wasn’t until the late 1980s when she was discovered by the renowned German photographer Peter Lindbergh that her modelling career really took off.
Patitz and other up-and-coming models were photographed by photographer Peter Lindbergh for the now-iconic Vogue cover wearing white T-shirts on Santa Monica beach. This photo rocketed both girls to fame and solidified Lindbergh as a prominent figure in the fashion world.
Following George Michael’s discovery of Patitz on the British Vogue cover for the month of January 1990, where she shared the cover with other well-known models including Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Linda Evangelista, Patitz’s fame began to soar. Patitz was then included alongside the other cover girls in Michael’s legendary “Freedom! music video for 90.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tatjana Patitz, a long-time friend of Peter’s.
We would like to salute Tatjana’s kindness, inner beauty and outstanding intelligence.
Our thoughts go to her loved ones and particularly Jonah. She will be immensely missed. https://t.co/VGjAhLyC2C
Patitz had a long career that spanned several decades, and more than 130 journals featured her on their covers.
The editor-in-chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour, remarked when Patitz passed away: “Tatjana was always the European emblem of exquisite, like Romy Schneider meeting Monica Vitti. She was far more covert than her peers, which added to her allure as a secretive, mature, and intimidating person.
Tatjana Patitz is passionate about a variety of things besides modelling, such as animals and the natural world.
Model Patitz advocated for animal welfare during her downtime from the catwalk. When she was younger, she participated in competitive horseback riding, and she has carried that passion throughout the years. According to Vogue, Patitz accepted the position of ambassador for the American Wild Horse Sanctuary after spending more than 30 years in the design industry.