Who was Tatjana Patitz? The iconic German supermodel dies of breast cancer aged 56

The well-known German actress and model Tatjana Patitz passed away from breast cancer on Wednesday in Santa Barbara, California. Her followers were shocked and grieved by the awful news, and many of them posted tributes to her and condolence words for her family. Tatjana passed away at the age of 56, yet despite dying so early, she left behind a remarkable legacy, including more than five decades of success in fashion and public life. She was a top supermodel during the 1980s and 1990s, and because of her enduring reputation, she continued to be in the spotlight even after. Tatjana supported a number of causes in addition to her showbiz profession. She used her fame and clout to campaign for causes and talk about issues related to the environment and animal rights. 

Everything you need to know about Tatjana Patitz

Patitz had breast cancer, as was already mentioned. Corinne Nicolas, her representative, stated to Insider: “Tatiana passed away in California this morning. Breast cancer was the cause of death.” The agent also mentioned Patitz’s son, sister, and parents as survivors. She was originally German. Although she was born in Hamburg, she was reared in Skanör, a town in Sweden. Her mother was an Estonian dancer, while her father was a German travel journalist.

As Patitz’s career continued to rise, she was praised not just for her style quotient and beauty but was also deemed one of the original supermodels. Her photographer Peter Lindberg, with whom she will have a fruitful three-decade collaboration, once wrote about her, “I admire Tatjana because she always stays herself. 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. It’s impossible not to admire her and over the years not to be just a little bit in love with her.” Another photographer Herb Ritts said, “Her features are a bit off; she’s not a typical, commercial beauty, but when I shoot her, I’m never bored. Her looks have power, strength, intensity.”

She introduced her own standards of beauty to her work. “I am proud of my wrinkles. I worked for each one and they belong to me.”

Patitz was a prominent model by the start of the 1990s. She was featured on the covers of numerous publications, including the US and UK editions of Vogue. She had developed into one of the supermodels who chose her own body type and style rather than dressing in accordance with male fantasies or the advice of fashion experts.

She had an appearance in the 1990 music video for the song “Freedom! ’90” by British singer-songwriter George Michael. It’s interesting that David Fincher, a future icon who would go on to helm “Alien 3” and “Seven” in the following several years, directed the video. Patitz lip-synced the song’s lyrics alongside other supermodels. The video does not include Michael himself. Both the song and the music video are regarded as some of the best from the 1990s, furthering Patitz’s notoriety.

Patitz didn’t worry that her modelling had flaws (or characteristics that society would consider flaws). She infused her work with her personal aesthetic standards. “I’m not ashamed of my wrinkles. I earned each one via my labour, thus they are mine. Ageing is a beautiful thing. You develop maturity and wisdom. Giving that gift away or modifying it is not an option for me. Being kind and supportive of others is what it means to be beautiful. According to me, beauty encompasses a person’s entire being, not just their appearance “she once said.