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British model, fashion muse Stella Tennant dies at 50

LONDON (AP) - Stella Tennant, the aristocratic British model who was a muse to designers such as Karl Lagerfeld and Gianni Versace, died suddenly at the age of 50, her family said Wednesday.

Tennant, the granddaughter of a duke, rose to fame in the 1990s while walking the runway for Versace, Alexander McQueen and other designers.

In a statement, her family said: 'œIt is with great sadness we announce the sudden death of Stella Tennant on Dec. 22.'ť

'œStella was a wonderful woman and an inspiration to us all. She will be greatly missed,'ť it said.

The family asked for privacy and said arrangements for a memorial service would be announced later. They did not disclose her cause of death.

Police Scotland said officers were called to an address in the Scottish Borders town of Duns on Tuesday following the sudden death of a 50-year-old woman. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

The granddaughter of the 11th Duke of Devonshire Andrew Cavendish and his wife Deborah Mitford of a glamorous, unconventional aristocratic family, Tennant was one of the leading British models of the 1990s.

Late in the decade, Lagerfeld announced her as the new face of Chanel, with an exclusive modelling contract, and she became a muse to the designer.

Fashion house Versace paid tribute to Tennant on Twitter, saying: 'œVersace 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.'ť

Donatella Versace posted a photo of Tennant on Instagram in a tribute to the model.

'œStella, I cannot believe you are gone," she wrote. 'œYou have left us way too soon. We met when you were at the beginning of your career. I cherish every moment we spent together. Ciao. Rest In Peace."

Stella McCartney said she was 'œspeechless" after hearing the news.

'œWhat sad, horrific news to end this already shocking year!" McCartney wrote in a post on Instagram that included a photo of her and Tennant. 'œRest in peace, you inspiring woman. Your soul and inner beauty exceeded the external perfection, Stella."

Tennant also appeared in advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein, Chanel, Hermes and Burberry.

In 1999, Tennant married French photographer David Lasnet. She is survived by him and their four children.

'œFrom the first time I met Stella I was completely blown away," fashion designer Marc Jacobs said on social media. 'œHer beauty, style and body language combined with her manners, kindness, sense of humor and personality were like no other. ... My condolences to David and her family. What a terrible, heartbreaking loss."

FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 file photo, German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld with British model Stella Tennant, left, acknowledges applause at the end of the presentation of his Paris-Bombay collection for Chanel, presented at the Grand Palais in Paris. Tennant, the aristocratic British model who was a muse to designers including Karl Lagerfeld and Gianni Versace, has died suddenly at the age of 50, her family said Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. The family asked for their privacy to be respected and said Tennant was 'œa wonderful woman and an inspiration to us all.' Police Scotland said there were no suspicious circumstances. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere, File) The Associated Press
FILE - This Sunday Aug. 12, 2012 file photo shows models, from left, Lily Cole, Karen Elson, Stella Tennant, Kate Moss, Lily Donaldson, Naomi Campbell, Jourdan Dunn and Georgia May Jagger walking with male model David Gandy during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Tennant, the aristocratic British model who was a muse to designers including Karl Lagerfeld and Gianni Versace, has died suddenly at the age of 50, her family said Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. The family asked for their privacy to be respected and said Tennant was 'œa wonderful woman and an inspiration to us all.' Police Scotland said there were no suspicious circumstances. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File) The Associated Press
FILE In this May 22, 1999 file photo, Stella Tennant with French born David Lasnet on their wedding day in Oxnam, on the Scottish Borders. Tennant, the aristocratic British model who was a muse to designers including Karl Lagerfeld and Gianni Versace, has died suddenly at the age of 50, her family said Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. The family asked for their privacy to be respected and said Tennant was 'œa wonderful woman and an inspiration to us all.' Police Scotland said there were no suspicious circumstances. (David Cheskin/PA via AP, FIle) The Associated Press
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