Stella Tennant

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Stella Tennant (born 17 December 1970) is a Scottish supermodel. The granddaughter of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and a fourth cousin once removed of Diana, Princess of Wales, Tennant was born in Scotland and attended St Leonards School in St Andrews. Her parents are the Honourable Tobias William Tennant and Lady Emma Cavendish.

[edit] Career

Tennant was studying at the Winchester School of Art, where she was a promising sculpture student when she was 'discovered'. The story of how this happened remains an urban myth, but she sent some photographs of herself to a high fashion magazine, and a friend introduced her to fashion writer Plum Sykes. She had recently had her nasal septum pierced, which was an unusual look for models at the time, and Sykes was taken aback by Stella's unconventional features and facial piercings. It was her aquiline and aristocratic features, lithe 6-foot frame and quick-witted manner that subsequently attracted the attention of photographers such as Steven Meisel and Bruce Weber. Tennant quickly rose to fame, posing for magazines such as French, British, and Italian Vogue as well as Harper's Bazaar and Numero.

Tennant was recently chosen to walk the runway for Chanel and is a muse of the designer, Karl Lagerfeld. She has also appeared in countless advertising campaigns, including Calvin Klein, Hermès, and Burberry. She was chosen to front the Burberry advertising campaign to revitalise the British firm and distance itself from the chav culture with which it is associated.

Tennant has four children and is married to a New York photographer. She settled her family in her native Scotland, where they still reside.