British model Stella Tennant has died suddenly just days after her 50th birthday, her family has confirmed.
In a statement, Stella’s 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 also asked for their “privacy to be respected”, adding that arrangements for Stella’s memorial service will be announced at a later date. No cause of death was given.
A Police Scotland spokesman has said: “Officers were called to an address in Duns around 11.30am on Tuesday, December 22 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.”
Born and raised in Scotland, Stella was the granddaughter of Andrew Cavendish, the 11th Duke Of Devonshire, and Deborah Mitford, one of the famous aristocratic sisters.
She got her start in the modelling industry in the early 1990s, going on to appear in photo-shoots for Vogue – both in her home country of the UK and international editions – and Harper’s Bazaar.
In 1997, Stella was chosen by Karl Lagerfeld as the new face of Chanel, later appearing in modelling campaigns for fashion brands like Burberry, Calvin Klein and Hermès.
Stella was also one of the models who were featured in the London Olympics Closing Ceremony in 2012, in a section celebrating the world of British fashion.
Appearing alongside the likes of Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Lily Cole and David Gandy, Stella wore an ensemble designed by Christopher Kane, joining her fellow models on a Union Jack-shaped catwalk.
She married former photographer David Lasnet in 1999, with whom she had four children; Marcel, Cecily, Jasmine and Iris.