Tatjana Patitz facts for kids

Tatjana Patitz (born 25 May 1966 – died 10 January 2023) was a famous German model. She became well-known around the world in the 1980s and 1990s. She appeared on fashion runways and in top magazines like Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and Vogue.

Tatjana was one of the five supermodels who starred in the 1990 music video "Freedom! '90" by George Michael. She also worked closely with famous photographers Herb Ritts and Peter Lindbergh. Many people in the fashion world admired her unique look and strong personality. Author Nigel Barker said she had an "exoticism and broad emotional range." Vogue editor Anna Wintour called her one of her favorite models. Tatjana helped change beauty standards in the fashion world. She showed that a more curvy and tall look could be beautiful in an industry that often preferred extreme thinness.

Beyond modeling, Tatjana loved animals and the environment. She worked to protect nature and animal rights. She also had a special talent for designing homes, using natural and recycled materials.

Early life and love for animals

Tatjana Patitz was born in Hamburg, West Germany, and grew up in Skanör, Sweden. Her father was German and worked as a travel journalist, so her family lived in different countries. Her mother was an Estonian dancer.

Tatjana started riding horses when she was seven years old. She spent summers at her family's vacation home on the island of Mallorca, where she went to horse camps. She once said that riding horses meant "freedom, connectedness, and dedication" to her. She felt horses helped her relax and be happy.

Becoming a supermodel

Starting her career in the 1980s

In 1983, when Tatjana was 17, she entered a modeling contest called "Elite Model Look." She placed third and won a contract with Elite Model Management. She then moved to Paris to start her modeling career. By 1985, she was working regularly and appeared on the cover of British Vogue.

That same year, she began working with photographer Peter Lindbergh. Their partnership lasted 30 years and helped start the supermodel era. Lindbergh admired her for always being herself, saying she was "very soft, but at the same time she's very strong."

Tatjana's success in Europe led her to New York City. There, she worked for American Vogue and with famous photographers like Irving Penn and Helmut Newton. In 1987, she appeared in Revlon's "The Most Unforgettable Women in the World" campaign. She also got her first American Vogue cover, which became a classic image of the 1980s.

During this time, Tatjana also met photographer Herb Ritts. They worked together on many fashion and art projects. Ritts said her features were "a bit off" but that she was never boring to photograph. One of his most famous photos of her is Tatjana Veiled Head (Tight View), Joshua Tree 1988.

Tatjana and a few other unique-looking models became known as the original supermodels. They helped change what was considered beautiful in fashion. A famous photo by Peter Lindbergh, "White Cotton Shirts," showed Tatjana and other models laughing on the beach. It was praised for showing her "uncosmeticised womanliness."

In 1988, Vogue called her a "Million Dollar Beauty." Photographers described her as sensitive, delicate, and versatile. She often changed her hair color and style, from short and dark to long and blonde. In 1989, she had her long blonde hair cut short, which was a big risk but led to new Vogue covers.

Tatjana became so popular that the fashion industry called this time "the era of Tatjana." She traveled constantly, sometimes taking 40 flights in one month. To have a more balanced life, she started to slow down her modeling work. She moved to California to focus on other interests like writing, acting, and meditation. She wanted to grow creatively and spiritually.

Becoming a global icon in the 1990s

At the end of 1989, Tatjana was part of two important group photos that defined the supermodel era of the 1990s. One was by Herb Ritts, and the other was Peter Lindbergh's cover for British Vogue in January 1990.

The January 1990 British Vogue cover featured Tatjana with Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington. This photo is seen as the start of the supermodel craze of the 1990s. It helped these five women become famous worldwide.

This Vogue cover inspired singer George Michael to choose these five models for his music video "Freedom! '90". In the video, directed by David Fincher, the models lip-synched the song instead of George Michael. This video was played a lot on MTV and became a huge part of pop culture, music, and fashion in the 1990s. The media called these five models "the big five."

After settling in Los Angeles, Tatjana continued modeling while also studying acting. She worked with many top photographers, including female photographers like Peggy Sirota and Ellen Von Unwerth. She also appeared in ads for major fashion brands like Chanel, Versace, and Jil Sander. She was the face of Jil Sander for many years, known for its simple and clean style.

In 1992, Tatjana was on the centennial (100-year anniversary) issue of Vogue with other supermodels. She also signed a special contract with Germaine Monteil makeup and perfumes. New York magazine named her one of the top 10 supermodels in the world, saying she changed ideas of perfect beauty. By 1997, Tatjana had appeared on over 200 magazine covers worldwide.

Later career and advocacy

In the 2000s, Tatjana continued to work with top photographers and magazines like Vogue Italia. She also became a spokesperson for brands like Longines. In 2007, she filmed a PSA for Orangutan Outreach, asking people to help protect orangutans in the rainforests.

Tatjana also returned to the runway for designers like Helmut Lang and Jean Paul Gaultier. In 2008, her home design style was featured in Livingetc magazine. She used recycled materials like wood and stone. She lived on her ranch with her son, horses, dogs, and cats, saying she "needed nature around me."

In the 2010s, Tatjana focused on issues like HIV awareness, LGBTQ rights, and gender equality. She continued to appear in Vogue, Marie Claire, and Elle. In 2011, she became the face of the global cosmetics brand Shiseido. She was in her 40s at the time, and this showed that beauty could be celebrated at any age. She told author Sarah Brokaw, "I believe in aging gracefully because it celebrates me as a woman."

In 2014, Tatjana starred in an ad campaign for L'Oréal Age Perfect with actress Jane Fonda and model Doutzen Kroes. This campaign celebrated three generations of women. In 2015, she reunited with Peter Lindbergh for a Vogue Italia photoshoot with other 1990s supermodels. This project celebrated natural, maturing beauty, without a lot of photo editing. Tatjana said, "You don't want to see the plastic-fantastic faces of some celebrities today. That's not a role model for young girls."

Tatjana walked the catwalk for the last time in 2019 for Etro's show at Milan Fashion Week. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Acting and other appearances

Tatjana also appeared in several music videos. She was in Duran Duran's "Skin Trade" (1987) and Nick Kamen's "Tell Me" (1988). Of course, her most famous music video appearance was in George Michael's "Freedom! '90" (1990). In 2000, she appeared in the Korn music video for "Make Me Bad."

She also starred in international TV commercials for brands like Cartier, Revlon, and Ralph Lauren. Her first major film role was in Rising Sun (1993). She also appeared on TV shows like The Single Guy and The Larry Sanders Show. Her biggest acting role was in the 1999 thriller Restraining Order.

Personal life

Tatjana Patitz was married to businessman Jason Randall Johnson. In 2004, she gave birth to her son, Jonah Johnson. Jonah sometimes joined his mother on photoshoots for magazines like Vogue.

Tatjana was a vegetarian. She believed in being proud of her wrinkles and that "Growing older is beautiful." She also said, "Beauty means being a good person and being there for others." She wanted her son to be empathetic and have compassion for the planet, animals, nature, and people.

Tatjana Patitz passed away on 10 January 2023, in Santa Barbara, California, at the age of 56, due to metastatic breast cancer.

Images for kids

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  Tatjana Patitz – Personality Award, 2005

See also

In Spanish: Tatjana Patitz para niños