Legendary fashion journalist Hilary Alexander dies at 77

Legendary fashion journalist Hilary Alexander has died at the age of 77.

The socialite, who is said to have coined the term ‘supermodel’, passed away on her birthday on Sunday.

A self-confessed workaholic, the New Zealand native became a trainee reporter at the age of 16 and worked her way up to becoming fashion editor for the Daily Telegraph in 1985.

She remained with the publication for the next 26 years, and was named its fashion director in 2003.

Hilary became a familiar face on television over the years, with regular stints on Lorraine, GMTV and BBC Breakfast.

Hilary was often seen on fashion related shows and documentaries and was held in high regard by the industry.

The journalist also appeared as a stylist on Britian’s Next Top Model for the 2005 and 2006 series and later returned for the 2016 series.

In 2011, she won the special Eugenia Sheppard Media Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and was called “an incredible force” by designer Diane Von Furstenberg.

Fellow designer Michael Kors presented the award to Hilary and called her “unsinkable.”

She was close friends with many highly regarded designers, including Gianni Versace, Alexander McQueen, and Julien Macdonald.

Hilary was twice named British Fashion Journalist of the Year and was awarded an OBE in 2013 for services to fashion.

British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful paid tribute to Hilary, saying: “I remember her being very nice to me when I first started in the industry.

“Everyone wanted to read what she had to say about fashion, but she was also so much fun, you could always feel her energy. She was so alive.

Icon: The socialite, who is said to have coined the term ‘supermoldel,’ passed away on her birthday Sunday (pictured in 2013)

Success: Hilary was twice named British Fashion Journalist of the Year and received an OBE in 2013 for her services to fashion (pictured with Abbey Clancy on Britain’s Next Top Model)

Designer Zandra Rhoades said: ‘Hilary Alexander was the epitome of incredible enthusiasm and hard work. She never gave up on a story and the research that went along with it. We can never fill the void she has left.

Artist Daniel Lismore said, “Her wit, intelligence and fashion savvy will be sorely missed.” She was a very funny lady who led an extremely colorful life.

Fashion critic Suzy Menkes praised Hilary for helping up-and-coming designers, saying: “With a spirited response to anything ‘fashion’, Hilary’s enthusiasm was for young British talent and the photographers who would take young models to distant places.”

Success: Hilary was often seen on fashion-related shows and documentaries and was held in high regard by the industry (pictured in 2014)