Jocelyne Wildenstein, the Swiss socialite famed for her extreme plastic surgeries, has d!ed at the age of 84.
Reports confirm that she passed away in a Parisian palace due to a pulmonary embolism, as shared by her partner, designer Lloyd Klein, with French international news outlet AFP.
Born Jocelynnys Dayannys da Silva Bezerra Périsset on August 5, 1940, in Lausanne, Switzerland, Wildenstein made her move to Paris at 19, accompanied by her boyfriend, Swiss movie producer Cyril Piguet.
This relocation marked the beginning of her journey into the arts and entertainment world.
Wildenstein first gained significant media attention following her 1997 divorce from billionaire Alec Wildenstein.
The couple had met while on safari in Africa, and they eloped the following year in Las Vegas.
Their tumultuous marriage ended amid allegations of infidelity, with Jocelyne reportedly discovering her husband with a Russian model.
The divorce, finalized in 1999, awarded her a staggering $2.5 billion, plus $100 million annually.
Jocelyne became infamous for her numerous cosmetic surgeries, which drastically changed her appearance.
Over time, her surgeries took on increasingly feline features, earning her the unflattering nickname “Catwoman.” In 1998, she insisted that her cosmetic choices were not an attempt to resemble African cats, despite the speculation surrounding her appearance. “The lynx has perfect eyes,” she claimed, attributing her look to familial traits.
After her divorce, Wildenstein found new freedom and joy in her life, dating Klein starting in 2003.
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She spoke about her newfound independence, stating, “I found freedom, and instead of having to behave according to a program, I could suddenly have the freedom to appreciate it.”
Wildenstein also carved out a career as an art dealer and amassed over 1 million followers on Instagram, where she shared glimpses of her life. Many of her followers paid tribute to her after the news of her d3ath broke.
Mel Ottenberg, the editor-in-chief of Interview magazine, honored her with a heartfelt post on Instagram, saying, “The great Jocelyne Wildenstein has left this realm… What a star, she was so fun.”
Jocelyne is survived by her two children with Alec Wildenstein, Diane and Alec Jr. Just weeks prior to her passing, Klein shared a video capturing a cheerful moment of the couple together in Paris during the holiday season, holding hands and smiling, encapsulating the joy she found in her later years.
