Tributes continue to pour in for Maggie Tabberer, the pioneering model, fashion icon, and media entrepreneur who passed away at the age of 87 on December 6.
Her daughter, Amanda, shared the heartbreaking news in a social media post, confirming that her mother had died.
“This morning we lost our beautiful mother and Nanna,” she wrote.
“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.”
As Australians from all walks of life honour her profound legacy, those closest to her and industry heavyweights have reflected on the lasting impact she made.
Former Australian Women’s Weekly editor Deborah Thomas described Tabberer as a trailblazer while reflecting on her impact.
“The peak job for young models was to be chosen by Maggie to be in one of her incredible parades,” Thomas told AAP.
“She did all the big fashion awards … it was the Maggie Tabberer style and there was always a lot of entertainment in what she did.
“She really sort of paved the way for women in an industry that was sort of coming of age. She really put Australian fashion on the map and she championed it.”
Vogue editorial director Edwina McCann told AAP that “Maggie was warm and always had a sparkle in her eyes.”
“She was a household name in Australia and an icon for the fashion industry,” she said.
The Australian Women’s Weekly current editor Sophie Tedmanson said Tabberer was an icon who empowered women around the world.
“It was an era in which Australian fashion took on the world and Maggie blazed that trail,” she said.
“We thank Maggie for her extraordinary legacy and send love to her entire family.”
Given Tabberer’s incredible life and career, it’s no surprise her passing has evoked such a strong reaction.
Born December 11, 1936, Tabberer’s remarkable career began at just 14 when she was discovered by a photographer at her sister’s wedding. This chance encounter led to her first modelling job. By her early twenties, she was mentored by renowned photographer Helmut Newton, who launched her into a successful modelling career.
Tabberer won the prestigious Model of the Year award in 1960 before transitioning to Sydney’s bustling fashion scene. She retired from modelling at 25 but remained a powerful force in the industry.
In 1967, Tabberer founded Maggie Tabberer & Associates, a public relations firm specialising in fashion clients. She later expanded her influence by launching a plus-size clothing line, Maggie T, in 1981, becoming an ambassador for body positivity and style. Her contributions to fashion were further immortalised when her portrait by artist Paul Newton became a finalist in the 1999 Archibald Prize.
Maggie’s publishing career began in 1963 with her fashion column, Maggie Says, for Sydney’s Daily Mirror, a role she held for 16 years. In 1981, media mogul Kerry Packer recruited her as fashion editor for Australian Women’s Weekly, where she became the face of the magazine, gracing its covers and advertisements for 15 years.
On television, Tabberer first captured audiences in 1964 as a panelist on Beauty and the Beast. Her charm and wit made her a household name, leading to her own chat show, Maggie, for which she won two consecutive Gold Logie Awards in 1970 and 1971. More recently, she hosted Maggie … At Home With on the Biography Channel, conducting candid interviews with Australian icons.
-with AAP.