Maggie Tabberer: Australian supermodel, fashion icon and Logie winner dies aged 87

Two-time Gold Logie winner and Australia’s fashion industry icon Maggie Tabberer has died aged 87.

Confirming the heartbreaking news on social media, Tabberer’s daughter Amanda Tabberer wrote: “This morning we lost our beautiful mother and Nanna.”

“She was an icon in every sense of the word and we will miss her dearly… Along with the rest of Australia.

“Rest in peace Nanna. We love you to bits forever.”

Born in Adelaide in 1936, Tabberer was discovered by Australian-German photographer Helmut Newtonin in Melbourne at the age of 23 and was selected as Australia’s Model of the Year in 1960.

Although she started her career as a model, she quickly became one of Australia’s most-known personalities.

She worked extensively in publishing and television, working as a fashion editor for the Australian Women’s Weekly for 15 years.

It was Tabberer’s role on the iconic Australian television panel show Beauty and the Beast that earned her the respect of the entertainment world.

Following her wild success and popularity on the program, Tabberer was given her own show, titled Maggie.

And it was that self-titled show that led Tabberer to win two Gold Logies in 1970 and 1971 when she was voted Most Popular Female Personality.

Tabberer married Charles Tabberer when she was 17. The couple went on to have two children, Brooke and Amanda, before separating.

Later, Tabberer remarried after meeting prominent restaurateur Ettore Prossimo in Sydney, with whom she shared her third child Francesco.

Tragically, Francesco died of SIDS when he was just 10 days old.

Tabberer and Prossimio split in 1985, and the fashion icon didn’t remarry.

She was in a relationship with journalist Richard Zachariah, until the two went separate ways in 1995.

Over her esteemed career, Tabberer became a Member of the Order of Australia, honoured in the Queens Birthday Honours in 1998.

After featuring in a series of TV shows across free-to-air and pay-TV networks after the millennium, Tabberer kept a lower profile, spending time with her family.

In an interview with the Australian Women’s Weekly in 2016, Tabberer revealed she no longer had intentions to date.

“At 80 I’ve come to my senses about men,” she told the publication.

“I’m not going to be getting into bed and taking my clothes off, don’t be ridiculous. I’ve still got a healthy ego.”

At age 86, Tabberer was made cover girl once more of the Australian Women’s Weekly as the magazine celebrated 90 years of publication.

Members of the fashion, entertainment and publishing industries on Friday posted tributes to the late star.

Former editor Neil Whitaker wrote: “Very sad. What an icon Maggie was. Sending love to you and your family.”

Fashion journalist and media commentator Melissa Hoyer wrote: “I just can’t believe it. The greatest of all time. My icon — the stories, the interviews, the influence, the innate style and the class act of an extraordinary woman. I am so sorry to read this Amanda and Brookie. Sending every every ounce of love. RIP. Legend.”

TV personality and hospitality queen Chyka Keebaugh wrote: “I am so sad to hear this awful news. I always loved her style and her love of everything. Sending all my love to you all.”

Tabberer is survived by her two daughters Brooke and Amanda, and grandson Marco.