"Tatjana Patitz, a renowned German fashion model, rose to global fame during the 1980s and 1990s. She graced the runways and pages of prestigious magazines like Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and Vogue, showcasing designs for prominent fashion houses. As one of the five iconic supermodels featured in George Michael's 1990 music video "Freedom! '90," Patitz left an indelible mark on the industry. Her image was intrinsically linked to the works of celebrated photographers Herb Ritts and Peter Lindbergh, who captured her essence in their editorial, advertising, and artistic endeavors."
May 1966: Birth of Tatjana Patitz
Tatjana Patitz was born in May 1966.
1983: Elite Model Look Competition and Move to Paris
At 17, Tatjana Patitz was a finalist in the Elite Model Look competition in 1983. She secured a contract and relocated to Paris to pursue modeling.
1984: Azzedine Alaia Debut
Patitz's first runway show took place in Paris for Azzedine Alaia in 1984.
December 1985: Appearance in Vogue's "Colored Contact Lenses" Photograph
Tatjana Patitz was featured in Irving Penn's striking photograph "Colored Contact Lenses" in Vogue's December 1985 issue.
1985: Success in Europe and Move to New York City
Following her success in Europe, Tatjana Patitz moved to New York City in 1985, where she collaborated with renowned photographers like Irving Penn and Helmut Newton.
1985: First Major Cover and Regular Modeling Work
Tatjana Patitz's modeling career gained momentum in 1985, and she landed her first major cover with British Vogue.
1986: Covers for Italian Vogue and Continued Editorial Features
In 1986, Tatjana Patitz graced two covers of Italian Vogue and continued to be featured in editorials for American and British Vogue.
May 1987: First American Vogue Cover and Revlon Campaign
Tatjana Patitz landed her first cover of American Vogue in May 1987, a shot by Richard Avedon that became iconic. The same year, she starred in Revlon's "The Most Unforgettable Women in the World" campaign.
1987: Tiffany's 150th Anniversary and Model Discovery Recognition
Tatjana Patitz appeared on the cover of Tiffany's special anniversary magazine in 1987 alongside Mikhail Baryshnikov, marking her recognition as the model discovery of the year.
1987: Duran Duran Music Video Appearance
In 1987, Tatjana Patitz appeared in Duran Duran's music video for "Skin Trade", a song that charted on Billboard's Hot 100.
1988: Collaboration with Herb Ritts and "Tatjana Veiled Head"
Tatjana Patitz began working with photographer Herb Ritts in 1988, resulting in notable fashion and fine art projects, including the renowned photograph "Tatjana Veiled Head".
1988: Nick Kamen Music Video Appearance
Tatjana Patitz was featured in the music video for Nick Kamen's song "Tell Me" in 1988.
1988: Vogue Feature: "Tatjana: Million Dollar Beauty"
Vogue published an article titled "Tatjana: Million Dollar Beauty" in 1988, featuring insights from Patitz's creative team and highlighting her versatility and photogenic qualities.
April 1989: British Vogue's "Earthly Powers" and the Iconic Haircut
Tatjana Patitz underwent a dramatic haircut for British Vogue's "Earthly Powers" editorial in April 1989. The bold move sparked debate but ultimately led to more cover appearances.
1989: Group Portraits with Fellow Supermodels
In late 1989, Tatjana Patitz participated in two significant group photoshoots with other soon-to-be-iconic models, captured by Herb Ritts and Peter Lindbergh, marking the dawn of the supermodel era.
January 1990: British Vogue Cover and the Rise of the Supermodel Era
Tatjana Patitz, alongside other top models, graced the cover of British Vogue's January 1990 issue, an image that came to define the supermodel phenomenon of the 1990s.
April 1990: Elle Magazine Feature
Tatjana Patitz was featured in Elle magazine in April 1990.
1990: George Michael "Freedom! '90" Music Video
Tatjana Patitz appeared in George Michael's iconic "Freedom! '90" music video in 1990, alongside supermodels Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Naomi Campbell. The video is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time.
1990: American and British Vogue Covers and the Supermodel Phenomenon
The year 1990 began with Tatjana Patitz appearing on both American and British Vogue covers. The British Vogue cover, featuring Patitz with other top models, solidified the supermodel phenomenon and brought them global recognition.
1990: Appearance in George Michael's "Freedom! '90" Music Video
Tatjana Patitz was featured in George Michael's iconic music video "Freedom! '90" in 1990, alongside other prominent supermodels.
April 1992: Vogue Centennial Issue and Germaine Monteil Contract
In April 1992, Tatjana Patitz was part of Vogue's centennial issue cover. This same year, she secured an exclusive contract with Germaine Monteil cosmetics, chosen for her global recognition and relatable beauty.
1992: Feature in "On The Edge: Images from 100 Years of Vogue"
The iconic "Colored Contact Lenses" photograph featuring Tatjana Patitz was included in the 1992 book "On The Edge: Images from 100 Years of Vogue".
1993: "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World, 1993 (for Parkett 37)"
In 1993, Tatjana Patitz collaborated with artist Charles Ray on a piece titled "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World, 1993 (for Parkett 37)".
1993: "Rising Sun" Film Debut
Tatjana Patitz made her major film debut in 1993 with a role as a murder victim in the film "Rising Sun".
1994: Helmut Lang Runway Show
Patitz walked in Helmet Lang's Fall 1994 latex and lace collection show.
April 1997: Elle Decor UK Cover Story
In April 1997, the UK edition of Elle Decor featured Tatjana Patitz in a cover story that highlighted her signature home design and decor style.
March 1998: Helmut Lang's First Online Runway Show
Patitz walked in Helmut Lang's March 1998 collection show, which was the first fashion show to ever be shown online.
1999: "Restraining Order" Film Role
In 1999, Tatjana Patitz landed a significant role in the thriller film "Restraining Order".
June 2000: V Magazine Photoshoot
In June 2000, Patitz was photographed by Inez and Vinoodh for a series of portraits in V magazine, alongside fellow supermodels Christy Turlington, Stephanie Seymour, and Iman.
2000: Korn Music Video Appearance
In 2000, Tatjana Patitz appeared in the music video for Korn's song "Make Me Bad," which reached the top 10 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs chart.
2000: Helmut Lang Runway Show
Patitz returned to the runway for Helmut Lang's Fall/Winter 2000 presentation, a show regarded by Vogue as one of the most unforgettable fashion shows of all time.
2001: Jil Sander Fragrance Campaign
Tatjana Patitz was the face of the Jil Sander No. 4 fragrance campaign in 2001.
2003: Kookai Campaign
Peter Lindbergh photographed Tatjana Patitz for the Spring/Summer 2003 Kookai campaign.
2004: Jigsaw Campaign
In 2004, Patitz starred in the Fall/Winter campaign for Jigsaw, photographed by Juergen Teller.
2004: Birth of Son
Tatjana Patitz gave birth to her son, Jonah Johnson, in 2004.
September 2006: W Magazine Feature
Juergen Teller included Patitz in a series of portraits for the September 2006 issue of W magazine, featuring fashion icons from different eras.
2007: Orangutan Outreach PSA
Patitz continued her advocacy for animal rights in 2007 by filming a PSA for Orangutan Outreach, raising awareness for the protection of orangutans in Borneo, Indonesia.
July 2008: Livingetc Feature
In July 2008, Livingetc published a feature celebrating Patitz's interior design style, which emphasized the use of recycled materials in her ranch home.
March 2009: Hermès Fashion Show
In March 2009, Vogue magazine highlighted Tatjana Patitz's return to the runway for Hermès, where she closed the show in a tribute to Amelia Earhart alongside designer Jean Paul Gaultier.
2009: Hermes Runway Show
Patitz closed out the decade by returning to the runway in 2009, closing Jean Paul Gaultier's Fall/Winter collection for Hermes during the finale.
2010: Carl Zeiss AG Calendar Shoot
In the summer of 2010, Tatjana Patitz was photographed by Bryan Adams in New York City for the 2011 Carl Zeiss AG calendar, alongside actor Michael J. Fox.
2010: Chanel Cruise Collection
Karl Lagerfeld cast Patitz as an Edwardian mother in his "Coco on the Lido" 2010 cruise collection show for Chanel, which took place on the Venice Lido.
2010: Chanel Resort Collection
Tatjana Patitz participated in Chanel's 2010 Resort Collection show, portraying an Edwardian mother and walking the finale with Karl Lagerfeld. This marked one of her many appearances in Lagerfeld's shows, including Chanel, Chloe, Fendi, and his own label.
2011: Shiseido Campaign
In 2011, Patitz was chosen as the spokesmodel for Shiseido's global cosmetics campaign.
2011: Carl Zeiss AG Calendar Release
The 2011 Carl Zeiss AG calendar, featuring Tatjana Patitz's photographs taken by Bryan Adams, was released.
August 2012: "The Great Escape" American Vogue Shoot
Tatjana Patitz and her son, Jonah, were featured together in an editorial spread titled "The Great Escape" for the August 2012 issue of American Vogue.
2012: Recognition in "Models of Influence" and Grace Coddington's Memoir
In 2012, Tatjana Patitz's impact on the fashion industry was highlighted in Nigel Barker's book "Models of Influence", and she was acknowledged as an original supermodel in Grace Coddington's memoir.
February 2013: Numéro China Cover
Patitz was featured on the cover of Numéro China's February 2013 issue, accompanied by a 20-page editorial photographed by Philip Dixon.
2014: Musee Magazine Feature
In 2014, Musee Magazine featured an interview where artist Slater Bradley discussed Patitz's 1993 collaboration with Charles Ray. Bradley praised the work for capturing a "girl next door" quality that anticipated the impact of social media decades later.
2014: L'Oreal Age Perfect Campaign
Patitz starred in an international advertising campaign for L'Oreal Age Perfect alongside actress Jane Fonda and model Doutzen Kroes, celebrating three generations of women.
September 2015: Vogue Italia Editorial
Peter Lindbergh reunited with Patitz for Vogue Italia's September 2015 issue, featuring her in an editorial titled "In Love With..." which celebrated Lindbergh's history with the 1990s supermodels.
2015: Return to the Runway
As of 2015, Patitz continued to be in demand for covers and campaigns, and made appearances on the runway for select brands such as Etro, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and Chanel.
2017: Continued Work
Patitz continued to work in the fashion industry as of 2017.
December 2019: "Family Matters" American Vogue Shoot
In December 2019, Tatjana Patitz and her son, Jonah, appeared together in an editorial spread titled "Family Matters" for American Vogue.
2019: Mercedes-AMG's 63Magazine Interview
In 2019, Tatjana Patitz shared her perspectives on motherhood, aging, and her personal values in an interview with Mercedes-AMG's 63Magazine.
2019: Etro Runway Show
Tatjana Patitz made her final runway appearance at Etro's fall/winter 2019 show during Milan Fashion Week.
2020: Supermodel Recognition and 30th Anniversary of "Freedom! '90"
In 2020, Tatjana Patitz was celebrated as one of the top supermodels of the 1990s by Marie Claire magazine. Several articles in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar also acknowledged her impact on the fashion industry. This year coincided with the 30th anniversary of George Michael's "Freedom! '90" music video, in which Patitz starred alongside other prominent supermodels.
2020: Etro "Aristoindies" Collection
Patitz walked in Etro's Fall 2019/2020 collection show titled "Aristoindies" at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi in Milan.
2021: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Recognition
In early 2021, German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung recognized Tatjana Patitz as one of the only three German models still holding the title of supermodel, alongside Claudia Schiffer and Nadja Auermann.
2021: L'Officiel Recognition
L'Officiel, in a 2021 article about the supermodel phenomenon of the 1990s, highlighted Tatjana Patitz as having the most captivating face of that era.
January 11, 2023: Death
Tatjana Patitz passed away on January 11, 2023, at the age of 56, in Santa Barbara, California, due to metastatic breast cancer.
January 2023: Death of Tatjana Patitz
Tatjana Patitz passed away in January 2023.