Notable figure Jocelyn Wildenstein, renowned for her drastic cosmetic transformations likened to 'Catwoman', passes away.
Notable figure Jocelyn Wildenstein, renowned for her drastic cosmetic transformations likened to 'Catwoman', passes away.
Jocelyne Wildenstein, often spelled "Jocelyne" in the media, was a frequent topic in New York tabloids due to her turbulent relationships, significant alterations in appearance, and the substantial payment she received in her divorce from a prominent figure in the art world (though she later claimed she was bankrupt, having depleted her fortune).
Wildenstein was often coy about the extent of her cosmetic procedures, attributing her famous "cat eyes" to genetic traits or changes in hairstyle. Sometimes, she would offer tantalizing hints to curious journalists.
She allegedly told photographer Zed Nelson in 2006, "If you're content with your flaws and aging, then leave things as they are. Otherwise, it's all about finding the right doctor."
A life characterized by wealth, cosmetic surgery, and a fondness for big cats
Jocelyne Péresset (her maiden name) began her life in Lausanne, Switzerland. Her exact birthdate has been challenging to determine, as she gave various dates to reporters. In 2023, she was reportedly 79 years old at the time of her death, according to AFP, while other outlets claimed she was 84 during her final days. As a child, she enjoyed swimming in lakes and skiing on nearby mountains. Her father instilled in her a love for African wildlife, which she discussed in an interview with Interview magazine in 2023.
She traded Lausanne for Paris in her twenties, where she danced at nightclubs and socialized with well-to-do foreigners. But her dream of traveling to Africa never waned. She made several trips to the continent before ultimately meeting Alec Wildenstein, a renowned art dealer, on a Kenyan safari in 1977. According to Alec, he was asked to kill a lion on a neighboring property; Wildenstein accompanied him, and they married the following year. Wildenstein became the proud owner of Ol Jogi, the vast Kenyan ranch owned by her husband's family – her favorite of several new homes she acquired.
Wildenstein's affinity for African big cats continued on a more expansive scale, as did her well-known penchant for lavish expenditures. After inheriting Ol Jogi through marriage, she housed two tigers in a bulletproof enclosure, an appropriate addition to the property that boasted 200 buildings staffed by over 300 workers. According to Wildenstein, she and her husband spent about $1 million per month. A couture Chanel gown costing $350,000 was, in her eyes, a worthy investment.
Her most indelible project was transforming her appearance. Wildenstein underwent extensive cosmetic surgery throughout her life, beginning approximately a year into her marriage to Alec. Despite her denials, she underwent "his-and-hers eye lifts," as described in a 1998 Vanity Fair feature. However, Wildenstein's enthusiasm for plastic surgery surpassed these procedures. For much of her adult life, the outer corners of Wildenstein's eyes slanted upwards toward her temples, mirroring the feline creatures she admired; her skin was so taut and cheeks so high that wrinkles were virtually nonexistent well into her 70s.
Wildenstein's marriage began to sour in 1998, when she claimed to have discovered her husband with another woman. Alec was charged with threatening his wife after she claimed he waved a loaded pistol as she entered their New York mansion – a residence they shared with other Wildenstein family members.
After a lengthy trial, Alec was ordered to pay Wildenstein $2.5 billion in a divorce settlement – and $100 million annually for 13 years. He passed away in 2008.
Wildenstein's next high-profile relationship was with Lloyd Klein, a French designer nearly three decades her junior. They met at New York Fashion Week in 2003 and bonded over their shared love of extravagance, Klein shared with People in 2016.
Their relationship was often stormy, as evidenced by Wildenstein's arrests in 2016 and 2017 following domestic disputes at their Trump World Tower residence in New York. At one point, they took out restraining orders against each other. Klein attributed their fights to Wildenstein's financial stress. Despite her substantial divorce settlement in 1999, Wildenstein filed for bankruptcy in 2018. She admitted to The Times in the UK that she was still financially struggling in late 2023.
Wildenstein largely avoided the public spotlight following her children's births, preferring to maintain their privacy. However, in her later years, she reemerged into the limelight. Her distinctive features, which were once scorned by tabloids, were celebrated by fashion-forward magazines such as Paper and Interview, for which she posed for grand photo shoots. Her dedication to maintaining her opulent image, even in the face of bankruptcy, earned her a cult following.
Even as she frequently appeared in tabloids, much of Wildenstein's life remains shrouded in mystery or myth. Her true age, the inspirations behind her feline appearance, and the ultimate fate of her fortune remain unclear. She claimed to share more of her story in an HBO series scheduled to air in 2023, but the project has yet to materialize. Regardless, Wildenstein seemed to relish the confusion surrounding her.
"I had no need to defend myself in 2018, she shared. Ultimately, I hold no concern about the situation."
Following her transition into a fashion icon, Jocelyne Wildenstein often expressed her love for experimenting with different styles, often incorporating vibrant colors and bold accessories into her outfits.
Despite her turbulent personal life, Wildenstein's influence in the world of fashion remained undeniable, making headlines for her unique fashion choices and high-profile collaborations with renowned designers.