British supermodel Stella Tennant died a few days after her 50th birthday. On Dec. 22, 2020, the family confirmed the news and asked for privacy.
The released statement read: "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."
Tennant was the granddaughter of the 11th Duke of Devonshire, Andrew Cavendish, and one of the famous aristocratic Mitford siblings, Deborah Mitford. She was born in Scotland.
Discovered by American fashion photographer Steven Meisel, Tennant was first reluctant pursuing a career in fashion modeling due to her androgynous look. After cover shoots and editorial work by Meisel, Tennant sparked the interest of other famous photographers and fashion designers.
During the '90s, Tennant ruled the catwalks of international fashion capitals such as Paris, Milan, and New York, along side supermodels Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer.
Enamored by her beauty as "modern allure," fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld made Tennant the face of Chanel for a time. It was said she resembled Coco Chanel herself according to Lagerfeld.
Tennant was a celebrated model with a plethora of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar covers, global campaigns for luxury brands such as Hermes and Versace, and elite fashion show presentations for Calvin Klein, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Burberry.
During the closing ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics, she joined fellow British supermodels Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss on the stage to represent the fashion industry.