Tributes to Tatjana Patitz: Eva Herzigova, Helena Christensen and Anna Wintour

Tatjana Patitz died aged 56 of breast cancer on Wednesday morning in California, her agent confirmed to DailyMail.com on Wednesday.

And soon after came tributes to the beauty who starred in George Michael’s music video, Freedom! since 1990 with Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford.

Fellow Crawford models Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova, Helena Christensen and Elaine Irwin, as well as Vogue editor Anna Wintour, were the first to share their comments.

Crawford shared flashback photos with Patitz on Insta Stories and two heartbroken emojis over the images.

The mother-of-two then shared an Instagram post to her page featuring the throwback photo of the women on a beach.

“Very saddened to learn of the passing of the beautiful @tatjanapatitz,” Rande Gerber’s wife began.

“We were babies together in the fashion industry and I feel like we grew up together. We were together in many photo shoots and backstage at shows.

“I found her soft-spoken, sensitive, kind, inquisitive, and who could forget those piercing eyes. Her love for animals and nature was contagious. I send my condolences to her family, especially the son she adored. RIP.’

Campbell shared various icons of a dove, a broken heart, and a prayer on Twitter.

Amber Valletta, who has worked for Vogue and Versace and has acted in films including What Lies Beneath and the TV series Blood And Oil, said: “So sad.”

Herzigova said: “An angel has left us, Tatjana Patitz… hearing of your passing is the saddest news I could have imagined… I miss your dear RIP.”

“This is deeply saddened,” Christensen shared. She also wrote: ‘Beautiful spirit she was’ as she added two heartbroken emojis. And she added a flashback photo where she said in the post that she was “heartbroken.”

‘Forever treasured Tatjana. With love to @tatjanapatitz and family,’ shared Elaine Irwin.

Yasmeen Ghauri shared a throwback photo while writing: ‘Rest in peace dear Tatjana. We didn’t know each other well, but your presence always caught my attention. Your authenticity, grace, kindness and inner strength shone through. We will miss you.

Anna Wintour, Chief Content Officer at Condé Nast and Global Editorial Director of Vogue, said: “Tatjana was always the European symbol of elegance, as Romy Schneider-meets Monica Vitti.

“She was much less conspicuous than her peers, more mysterious, more adult, more unattainable, and that had its own appeal.”

Makeup artist Pati Dubroff said: “I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of this beauty.” @tatjanapatitz was one of the first models I met and connected with when we were both in our early 20’s. She was already a “supermodel” and I was ‘just’ an assistant. She was kind, cool and very down to earth.

“As I write this, I realize that not only have we lost this light, but also the photographer @therealpeterlindbergh and hairstylist #davidbabaii from this shoot are no longer with us in this earthly existence.”

The team of photographer Peter Lindbergh shared on Twitter: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tatjana Patitz, a longtime friend of Peter’s. We would like to salute Tatjana’s kindness, inner beauty and exceptional intelligence. Our thoughts go out to her loved ones and particularly Jonah, she will be missed immensely.

The star was born in Germany but grew up in Sweden.

She got her start in the modeling business as a teenager, but only rose to international fame when she was photographed by acclaimed photographer Peter Lindberg.

Later, the cover girl moved to California to be close to her horses.

She was married to Jason Johnson for six years, and the couple had a son, Jonah, together in November 2004, whom she describes as her “source of happiness”.