The model Tatjana Patitz is dead. Patitz, who was born in Hamburg, died on Wednesday at the age of 56 in the US state of California, her model agency in New York told the German Press Agency.
There was initially no information on the cause of death.
Along with colleagues like Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell, Patitz was one of the most successful supermodels of the 80s and 90s.
She graced the front pages of numerous major fashion magazines, was seen in George Michael's famous music video for his hit "Freedom" and became known above all through pictures by star photographer Peter Lindbergh.
"Tatjana was always the European symbol of chic - like Romy Schneider-meets-Monica Vitti," Vogue boss Anna Wintour was quoted as saying in an article in the magazine on Wednesday.
"She was a lot less visible than her peers — more mysterious, more mature, more aloof — and that had its own appeal."
Patitz was born in Hamburg on March 25, 1966 and grew up in Sweden.
She later moved to California and also landed some film roles.
The model had a son.