Jocelyne Wildenstein, the Swiss-born New York socialite famously nicknamed "The Catwoman" due to her extensive plastic surgeries, has died in Paris at the age of 79.
Her longtime partner, fashion designer Lloyd Klein, confirmed to People magazine that she passed away peacefully in her sleep on New Year's Eve while taking a nap at a Parisian palace.
Speaking about her sudden passing, Klein revealed the cause of death was a pulmonary embolism, stemming from complications related to phlebitis.
"Because of her phlebitis, the legs were very, very swollen, and the blood was blocked, and there was no oxygen in the brain," he said.
Klein, who had been napping alongside her, recalled, "When I wake up, I said, 'Jocelyn, we have to wake up, we have to get dressed,' and she was cold, and she was dead."
The couple had been spending the festive season in Paris and had been preparing to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
"We had a nice happy hour the same night and were getting ready for the new year. We took a little nap just to look good before getting dressed," Klein said, adding, She was "very happy and at the top of her game."
Wildenstein's unique appearance, shaped by extensive facial surgeries to resemble a feline, brought her worldwide fame and nicknames such as "The Bride of Wildenstein."
Her looks and lavish lifestyle frequently made headlines, as did her high-profile divorce from billionaire art dealer Alec Wildenstein in the late 1990s.
The divorce reportedly led to a $2.5 billion settlement (approximately R46.725 billion) along with an additional $100 million (approximately R1.869 billion) paid each year for 13 years, making it one of the most expensive divorces in history.
Despite later facing bankruptcy, Wildenstein kept the Wildenstein name and remained in the public eye, gaining more than a million followers on Instagram.
Wildenstein had two children with Alec Wildenstein before their high-profile divorce.
Klein and Wildenstein met during New York Fashion Week in 2001 and began their relationship.
In 2016, they briefly split after a domestic dispute led to assault charges for both parties, though the charges were dropped in 2017, and the couple reconciled.
Klein described Wildenstein as "my best friend, my partner, my fiancée."
In the days leading up to her death, Wildenstein and Klein shared glimpses of their Paris holiday on Instagram, showcasing the lavish lifestyle she had maintained despite her financial woes.
IOL