Stella Tennant's death confirmed as suicide

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jan 8, 2021

Stella Tennant’s death has been confirmed as suicide by her family who said the British supermodel had been “unwell for some time”.

They added that it was “a matter of our deepest sorrow and despair that she felt unable to go on”.

The family wanted to make her suicide public as they feel mental health issues are “too often misunderstood” and it’s important to raise awareness of those issues. 

Tennant made her name in the early 1990s as she appeared in magazines from British Vogue to i-D and on the runway wearing big names including Versace, Alexander McQueen, Jean Paul Gaultier and Chanel. In the decade that embraced grunge and unisex, she made a huge impact with her androgynous look. The key shoot that made her name was with photographer Steven Meisel in 1993, and was styled by Isabella Blow.

Despite her attempts to shake off the tag, she was also seen as part of the wave of models from aristocratic backgrounds.

Her death in December shocked the fashion world and came just days after she turned 50. Her family said they were “humbled by the outpouring of messages of sympathy and support” that they received when the news was released.

Tennant had quit the catwalk in 1998 but later returned and even opened the Valentino couture show a year ago, although she more recently devoted more time to campaigns focused on eco issues.

She had a long-term relationship with French-born photographer David Lasnet and married him in 1999, although they separated last year. They had four children.