Jocelyn Wildenstein has died at the age of 84.
Dubbed “Catwoman” due to her extreme facial cosmetic procedures in hopes of resembling a cat, the Swiss socialite passed away on Tuesday, December 31, from a pulmonary embolism.
According to Daily Mail, AFP shared that “her partner Lloyd Klein is saddened to announce the death of Jocelyn Wildenstein in Paris.”
Jocelyn Wildenstein passed away on December 31 from a pulmonary embolism
The 84-year-old made many headlines throughout her life and was mostly known for her high-profile divorce from billionaire art dealer and businessman Alec Wildenstein in 1997, as well as her extravagant lifestyle and bankruptcy filing.
But what raised many brows was her claim that her “Catwoman” nickname had no real merit, as she’d never gone under the knife to achieve the feline look she was known for.
The socialite reaffirmed her stance on cosmetic procedures and said she had no interest in Botox or fillers.
“I haven’t had plastic surgery,” she said while speaking to The Sun. “I’m scared of what could happen, and I don’t like the idea of something heavy. Sometimes, it’s too much and looks terrible.
“I don’t like Botox. Everyone has a different reaction to it,” Jocelyn continued. “I have had Botox only twice. I don’t know if I’m allergic, but when I had it, it did not go well with me. It was not a good result. My face swelled up. If [other women] want to do it too strong, it doesn’t work well.”
Despite her insistence, the internet — as well as her former husband — weren’t so quick to believe her.
“She was crazy,” Alec revealed to Vanity Fair back in 1998. “I would always find out last. She was thinking that she could fix her face like a piece of furniture. Skin does not work that way. But she wouldn’t listen.”
Additionally, when Jocelyn shared a throwback photo this August of what she looked like prior to the alleged surgeries, fans flocked to the comments to compare the before-and-afters.
The picture showed a younger version of the “cosmetic queen” sporting a wavy bob as she held her baby daughter on her lap.
“She was beautiful! Then she had to destroy her face,” a netizen wrote.
Another added, “The surgeons who did this to her should be sued and jailed. There comes a time when they have an ethical responsibility to say no and if she thinks she is liking this look, she is lying to save face, no pun intended.”
In the days before her death, she was spotted multiple times looking healthy as she stepped outside for business lunches and events with her fiancé while vacationing in Paris.
Jocelyn is survived by her partner, Lloyd Klein, and her two children.
Sympathies poured in following the announcement of her death
