Christy, Linda, Naomi, Cindy & Tatjana by Peter Lindbergh for Vogue Australia (2013) as 'Supernova' | AOC Archives

Update 1/11/2023: AOC has written multiple times about Peter Lindbergh’s famous supermodel shoot for British Vogue and its hallmark relevance in inspiring the George Michael ‘Freedom 90’ video. Cindy Crawford shared the video on Instagram three years ago. Prior to that we moved it to the front of the fashion channel on December 25, 2016, with the passing of George Michael.

Regretfully, we again move the video to the front of our channel with the passing of Tatjana Patitz — the super who marched to her own melody. Losing acclaimed photographer Peter Lindbergh — Tatjana’s fashion godfather — on September 3, 2019 was such a gut punch. Today’s news is another ember on a fire of uber-talented people who have left planet Earth long before we were ready to leave them.

May your next act be glorious Tatjana Patitz. ~ Anne

Previously

Reported by Vogue Italia today, the 30th anniversary of the video is soon upon us. In 2013, photographer Peter Lindbergh recreated the iconic cover for Vogue Australia, sharing images of the supers from their earlier years

The second George Michaels’ ‘Freedom’ post above was also moved ahead, originally written on the death of Michaels. My commentary is focused on LGBTQ rights and the soon-to-be inauguration of Donald Trump as America’s president.

These were extraordinarily sad weeks for all of us progressives. Many of us were drinking every day, [I definitely was] knowing what was about to happen and unable to process the reality that this mob-boss, despicable man who ultimately led an insurrection against America on January 6, 2021 would replace Barack Obama.

In the post, each of the models reflects on the specific moments of her life in making the ‘Freedom’ video . . . what she felt arriving on the set and as the day proceeded.

With the launch of its five-part Model series, leading off with Lara Stone, Vogue Australia will look back at the original supermodels and the photographer who helped shape their images. Peter Lindbergh was frequently in the company of Christy, Linda, Naomi, Cindy and Tatjana who “ruled the catwalks and pretty much anywhere else they deigned to walk”, writes Vogue Australia. 

Of the five supermodels ushering in the madness that accompanied British Vogue’s January edition, four remain very much in the public eye. Tatjana Patitz has lived in Malibu since 1989 and has made other life choices, according to the environmental and animal rights activist. 

Writing about this topic of supermodels in 2009, the Guardian noted:

The supermodel era ended in the mid-90s. The all-powerful names were replaced by grungy waifs on the catwalks, and actors and pop stars on the covers of magazines. You could argue that while the supermodels may have become monsters, at least they were better than the young models paraded today, grey and anonymous, their invisibility and powerlessness physically manifested in their extreme thinness. The supers were never like that.

In the same article, the Guardian asks Patitz if she would want to be a model today. She replies:

It’s hard to say. I honestly don’t know. It would be much more difficult because there’s a sea of girls. It’s almost like a fast-food market - a girl does well for a few seasons, then she’s forgotten. Whereas before, it would take you a few seasons to get going and it was more possible to have longevity.

Original Supermodels in order: Christy Turlington Miami Beach 1993 by Peter Lindbergh; Cindy Crawford Miami Beach 1995 by Peter Lindbergh; Tatiana Patitz Deauville 1990 by Peter Lindbergh; Naomi Campbell Deauville 1988 by Peter Lindbergh; Linda Evangelista Paris 1990 by Peter Lindbergh