British supermodel, Versace’s muse Stella Tennant dies at 50: reports

British supermodel Stella Tennant died Tuesday, five days after her 50th birthday, according to reports.

“It is with great sadness we announce the sudden death of Stella Tennant on Dec. 22, 2020. Stella was a wonderful woman and an inspiration to us all. She will be greatly missed,” her family said in a statement obtained by The Guardian and BBC. “Her family ask for their privacy to be respected. Arrangements for a memorial service will be announced at a later date.”

Her cause of death was not announced. USA TODAY has reached out to Tennant’s reps.

The model had many career defining moments, from appearing at the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony with Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss to being named the face of Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld in the late ’90s.

Designers and fans took to social media Wednesday to pay tribute to Tennant, including the official Versace Twitter account, which noted that the model served as late designer Gianni Versace’s muse.

“Versace is mourning the death of #StellaTennant. Stella was Gianni Versace’s muse for many years and friend of the family,” Versace tweeted. “We will miss you forever Stella. Rest In Peace.”

Campbell shared a series of photos of Tennant on Instagram, remembering her as “a rare beauty inside and out.”

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“you were one of the goods ones never any love lost when we would see each other always picked up from where we left off ,. Effortless and the epitome of Grace , even when you would sit in a corner doing your needle point . Timeless Angel amongst us . my deepest condolences to your beautiful children family and loved ones ., ICON YOU WILL ALWAYS BE . R.I.P.”

Cindy Crawford also took to social media to mourn the late model.

“Stella Tenant, gone too soon,” she wrote with a broken heart emoji. “I always admired her fearlessness and style. Sending prayers to her family.”

Designer Francesco Scognamiglio shared old photos of himself with Tennant to Instagram and reflected on the first time they met.

“THE FIRST TIME WE MET WAS IN 1994 AT YOUR FIRST VERSACE SHOW AND LAST TIME THREE YEARS AGO IN PARIS.YOU ARE AND WILL BE MY ICON AND YOUR BEAUTY WILL LIVE FOREVER,” he captioned the photo.

New York Times fashion editor Vanessa Friedman tweeted: “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.”

“Part of the high-wattage class of supermodels of the 1990s and celebrated for an androgynous look that was instantly iconic, Stella Tennant most recently thrilled the audience when she opened Valentino’s haute-couture show in January. At 50 years old, she was far too young,” wrote Fashion writer Laurie Brookins.

Tennant married photographer David Lasnet in 1999. She is survived by their four children Cecily, 20, Marcel, 22, Jasmine, 17, and Iris, 15.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stella Tennant dead: British supermodel and Versace muse dies at 50