Model Tatjana Patitz has died at the age of 56, her New York modelling agency confirmed.

Patitz, born in Hamburg, Germany, rose to prominence as a high-fashion model in the 1980s and 1990s.

On Wednesday, Patitz’s New York modelling agency The Model CoOp confirmed to the PA news agency that she had died in California.

Along with her successful modelling career, Patitz also starred in the music video for George Michael’s hit Freedom! alongside fellow models Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Naomi Campbell.

Patitz also featured in several other music videos, including the video for Duran Duran’s Skin Trade and the Nick Kamen music video for Tell Me.

Remembering the model on Vogue.com, chief operating officer of Conde Nast and global editorial director of Vogue Anna Wintour said: “Tatjana was always the European symbol of chic, like Romy Schneider-meets-Monica Vitti.”

Adding: “She was far less visible than her peers, more mysterious, more grown-up, more unattainable, and that had its own appeal.”

During her career Patitz worked with a number of high-profile fashion photographers including Peter Lindbergh whose 1990 British Vogue cover featured the biggest models at the time, including Patitz.

The black and white image once again showed her in the company of Crawford, Turlington, Evangelista and Campbell.

Following the news of Patitz’s death, the Peter Lindbergh Foundation, paid tribute to the model on its official Twitter account, writing: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tatjana Patitz, a long-time friend of Peter’s.

“We would like to salute Tatjana’s kindness, inner beauty and outstanding intelligence.

“Our thoughts go to her loved ones and particularly Jonah.

“She will be immensely missed.”

Patitz has one son, 19-year-old Jonah Patitz.