Scottish model Stella Tennant has died aged 50.
The aristocratic supermodel died five days after her 50th birthday on December 17.
The granddaughter of the 11th Duke of Devonshire, Andrew Cavendish, and Deborah Mitford, she rose to fame in the 1990s, walking the runway for designers including Versace and Alexander McQueen.
She was among models representing the British fashion industry during the closing ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, on the final day of the London 2012 Olympics.
She married French-born photographer David Lasnet in the small parish church of Oxnam in the Scottish Borders in 1999. They had four children together.
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.
“Her family ask for their privacy to be respected. Arrangements for a memorial service will be announced at a later date.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Officers were called to an address in Duns, Scottish Borders, around 11.30am on Tuesday 22 December following the sudden death of a 50-year-old woman.
“Her next of kin have been made aware.
“There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
Versace is mourning the death of #StellaTennant. Stella was Gianni Versace’s muse for many years and friend of the family. We will miss you forever Stella. Rest In Peace.
Stella Tennant for Atelier Versace SS 1996, ph. Richard Avedon @Avedon pic.twitter.com/9tZqwMATzn— VERSACE (@Versace) December 23, 2020
In 1993, aged 23, Tennant broke into modelling, posing for magazines such as French, British and Italian Vogue as well as Harper’s Bazaar.
In the late 90s, Karl Lagerfeld announced Tennant as the new face of Chanel, with an exclusive modelling contract, and became a muse for the fashion designer, which he attributed to her resemblance to Coco Chanel.
Fashion house Versace paid tribute to Tennant on Twitter, saying: “Versace is mourning the death of Stella Tennant.
“Stella was Gianni Versace’s muse for many years and friend of the family. We will miss you forever Stella. Rest In Peace.”
Tennant also appeared in numerous advertising campaigns, including for Calvin Klein, Chanel, Hermes and Burberry.
In June 2012, she was inducted as Model of the Year in the Scottish Fashion Awards Hall of Fame.
