Vera Barreto Leite Valdez: Brazilian model who was Coco Chanel's muse dies aged 89
A fashion icon who was Brazil’s first top model and later became a celebrated muse of Coco Chanel has died aged 89.
The death of Vera Barreto Leite Valdez was announced in the city of Sao Paulo, in the southeastern Brazilian state of the same name, where Teatro Oficina confirmed her passing on social media.
Teatro Oficina is a famous Brazilian avant-garde theatre company based in Sao Paulo, and it is also the name commonly used for its iconic venue in the Bela Vista neighbourhood.
The theatre company wrote: “This afternoon Vera departed. So much love for this icon,” in a message that was widely shared and prompted an outpouring of tributes from artists and cultural figures.
Vera was born in 1936 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, and later became known professionally as Vera Valdez during her international modelling career.
She began her career after moving to Paris as a teenager in the 1950s. Vera was the muse and preferred mannequin of French fashion designer Coco Chanel, modelling extensively during a period that established her as Brazil’s first top model.
She also worked for Christian Dior and posed for several fashion magazine covers.
After returning to Brazil, she worked as a model for designer Dener Pamplona de Abreu and became deeply involved in theatre, going on to play a significant role in the history of Teatro Oficina.
She was also one of the founders of the Brazilian TV network TV Globo. Alongside her modelling work, Vera built a career as an actress and starred in several films and TV series.
Tributes following her death included a message from fellow actor Matheus Nachtergaele, who said: “My deepest condolences to the theatre, family and friends.”
The cause of her death, which was announced on Wednesday, January 14, has not been disclosed.
Story: CEN