Stella Tennant had one of the most acclaimed modeling careers of her generation. She first came to fame in the early ‘90s, and until her unfortunate passing in 2000, she was walking the runways for some of the world’s most esteemed brands and designers. During her career, the average fashion month could see Tennant on the catwalk for Chanel, Burberry, Calvin Klein, and Valentino. She was also a beloved model by famous fashion photographers, including Steven Meisel, Bruce Weber and Tim Walker.
Tennant was born into British society as her father, Tobias Tennant, was the son of the second Baron Glenconner and her mother was Lady Emma Cavendish. Her grandfather, Andrew Cavendish, was the Duke of Devonshire. Her big break came in the ‘90s when Karl Lagerfeld gave her an exclusive contract with Chanel. From there, Tennant’s career took off. Here, WWD takes a closer look at the legendary model’s moments in fashion throughout the year.
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Image Credit: News Licensing / MEGA Stella Tennant in her Chanel leggings after the show at the Paris Ritz.
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Stella Tennant, 1995
Image Credit: Kyle Ericksen Stella Tennant backstage during the Calvin Klein fall 1995 ready to wear collection.
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Stella Tennant, 1996
Image Credit: Corbis Via Getty Images Stella Tennant walks the runway during the Chanel Haute Couture spring 1996 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on Jan. 23, 1996, in Paris.
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Stella Tennant, 1996
Image Credit: Sygma via Getty Images Stella Tennant at Valentino’s fall 1996 haute couture show.
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Stella Tennant, 1996
Image Credit: Robert Mitra Stella Tenant models on the runway of the Calvin Klein spring 1997 ready to wear show.
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Stella Tennant, 1997
Image Credit: WWD Model Stella Tennant wears Gaultier’s goth bridal look at the fall 1997 couture show.
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Stella Tennant, 1999
Image Credit: Giovanni Giannoni Stella Tennant on the runway during the Louis Vuitton by Marc Jacobs fall 1999 ready to wear show, with Grace Coddington and Andre Leon Talley watching from the front row.
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Stella Tennant, 2001
Image Credit: Getty Images Model Stella Tennant arrives for the premiere of “Moulin Rouge” on April 17, 2001, at the Paris Theatre in New York City.
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Stella Tennant, 2002
Image Credit: WireImage Stella Tenant during New York Premiere of Matthew Barney’s “Cremaster 3” in 2002 at The Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City, New York, United States.
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Stella Tennant, 2002
Image Credit: WireImage Stella Tennant at the Burberry flagship opening in 2002.
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Stella Tennant, 2003
Image Credit: Steve Eichner Stella Tennant attends the 2003 Met Gala.
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Stella Tennant, 2003
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media Model Stella Tennant arrives at the 2003 CFDA Awards Ceremony at the New York Public Library in New York.
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Stella Tennant, 2003
Image Credit: WireImage Stella Tennant during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week fall 2003 collection shows walking for Oscar de la Renta.
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Stella Tennant, 2003
Image Credit: Giovanni Giannoni Stella Tennant on the runway at the Chanel Fall 2003 Ready To Wear Fashion Show on March 9, 2003, in Paris.
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Stella Tennant, 2005
Image Credit: AFP via Getty Images British model Stella Tennant wears a creation as part of Burberry’s fall 2004 women’s collection on Feb. 28, 2004, during Milan Fashion Week.
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Stella Tennant, 2004
Image Credit: AFP via Getty Images Stella Tenant presents a creation by Belgian designer Dries Van Noten during the presentation of fall 2004 collections at the Paris fashion Week on March 4, 2004.
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Stella Tennant, 2005
Image Credit: Steve Eichner Michael Roberts (L) and Stella Tennant attend the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Costume Institute gala.
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Stella Tennant, 2006
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media Stella Tennant on the runway at Burberry Prorsum’s fall 2006 show.
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Stella Tennant, 2006
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media Stella Tennant attends Burberry’s brunch at the Hudson Hotel’s Private Park in 2006.
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Stella Tennant, 2006
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media Stella Tennant attends the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Costume Institute gala in 2006.
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Stella Tennant, 2006
Image Credit: Davide Maestri Stella Tennant attends the “Balenciaga Paris” preview at the Museum of Fashion and Textiles in 2006.
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Stella Tennant, 2007
Image Credit: NYT Syndicate Model Stella Tennant attends the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Costume Institute gala in New York City in 2007. Tennant wears Burberry with Fred Leighton jewels.
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Stella Tennant, 2009
Image Credit: Julien Macdonald Model Stella Tennant backstage at Julien Macdonald’s fall 2009 runway show.
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Stella Tennant, 2009
Image Credit: Steve Eichner Stella Tennant attends the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 2009 Costume Institute gala. Tennant wears vintage Helmut Lang.
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Stella Tennant, 2009
Image Credit: WireImage Stella Tennant attends a party to celebrate launch of new Prada book on Nov. 18, 2009 in London.
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Stella Tennant, 2010
Image Credit: Calvin Klein Stella Tennant on the runway at Calvin Klein’s fall 2010 show.
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Stella Tennant, 2010
Image Credit: Getty Images Model Stella Tennant attends the 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on June 7, 2010, in New York City.
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Stella Tennant, 2011
Image Credit: Reed Krakoff Stella Tennant backstage at Reed Krakoff’s spring 2011 runway show in September 2010.
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Stella Tennant, 2010
Image Credit: Chanel Stella Tennant for Chanel’s spring 2011 runway show in Paris in September 2010.
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Stella Tennant, 2010
Image Credit: Getty Images Stella Tennant attends the Dior store opening party at Dior on New Bond Street on Nov. 25, 2010, in London.
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Stella Tennant, 2011
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media Stella Tennant at Moncler’s spring 2011 collection party.
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Stella Tennant, 2011
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media Stella Tennant attends the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 2011 Costume Institute Gala featuring the opening of the exhibit Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty.
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Stella Tennant, 2011
Image Credit: Chanel Model Stella Tennant on the runway at Chanel’s spring 2012 show at the Grand Palais.
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Stella Tennant, 2012
Image Credit: Kuba Dabrowski Stella Tennant attends Paris fashion week spring 2012 haute couture runway shows.
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Stella Tennant, 2013
Image Credit: Evan Falk Stella Tennant attends the 2013 Met Glaa in New York City.
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Stella Tennant, 2016
Image Credit: Swan Gallet/WWD Stella Tennant in the front row of Balenciaga’s fall 2016 runway show in Paris.
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Stella Tennant, 2017
Image Credit: WWD Stella Tennant on the catwalk for Berluti’s spring 2018 runway show in Paris.
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Stella Tennant, 2019
Image Credit: WWD Stella Tennant on the catwalk for Saint Laurent’s spring 2020 runway show in Paris.
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Stella Tennant, 2019
Image Credit: Getty Images Stella Tennant walks the runway during the Alexander McQueen spring 2020 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on Sept. 30, 2019, in Paris.
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Stela Tennant, 2019
Image Credit: FilmMagic Stella Tennant arrives at The Fashion Awards 2019 held at Royal Albert Hall on Dec. 2, 2019, in London.
