Sophia Michaels
Every individual has a story to tell through their features, and Jocelyn Wildenstein, who passed away at 84, was famously recognized for hers. Known for a dramatic transformation through plastic surgery, this Swiss woman earned the nickname “Catwoman” due to her feline-like appearance. She even owned a lynx and remarked in a 1998 Vanity Fair interview that “the lynx has perfect eyes.” Her death, reported first by Paris Match, resulted from a pulmonary embolism while she took a nap in her Paris home.
Beyond her striking surgeries, Jocelyn’s life as a socialite was filled with headline-grabbing stories, not just for her looks but also for her extravagant lifestyle. After marrying billionaire Alec Wildenstein in 1977 and their subsequent divorce in 1998, she received a substantial settlement that supported her lavish living. Reports from The Times indicate she spent $10 million on jewelry, racked up $60,000 annually in phone bills, and lived off a million-dollar yearly budget, largely on food and wine. Jocelyn’s life was an echo of rumors and adventures, spanning from connection with a famed Parisian bordello owner to her love for African wildlife and safaris. Yet, behind her glamorous facade hid a narrative of personal sorrow.
She showcased beauty before the surgeries
While beauty is subjective, Jocelyn Wildenstein offered a poignant glimpse of her pre-surgery self with a nostalgic piece shared on Instagram, showing her holding her baby daughter. Dressed in a simple white v-neck shirt and sporting red lipstick with lovely curled locks, she appeared stunningly human, in stark contrast to her later appearances. Although the specific year of the photo isn’t mentioned, she captioned it joyfully, celebrating her daughter’s birthday at their Parisian residence, the Chateau de Marienthal.
In the image, her daughter Diane Wildenstein, now 45 and a racehorse breeder in London, follows in her father Alec Wildenstein’s footsteps. Diane has two children, the eldest being 20. However, Jocelyn sadly mentioned to The Times in 2023 that she hadn’t seen her grandchildren since the eldest was just three, with their estrangement reportedly linked to her divorce from their father.
She attributed her surgeries to her husband
Ironically, Jocelyn Wildenstein’s first surgery mirrored a couple’s activity with her then-husband, Alec. Vanity Fair reports that Diane highlighted Alec’s aging signs to him, which led them to undergo simultaneous eyelifts. This seemingly innocent act spiraled into excessive surgeries as Jocelyn became obsessed with maintaining her appearance. While she initially blamed Alec for her fixation, claiming he disliked aging, she later reflected that he complimented her youthful looks, albeit with the caveat that there would come a day when that youth faded.
In Jocelyn’s narrative, Alec maintained she was the one at fault, stating, “She was crazy. I always found out last about her surgeries. She thought she could treat her face like furniture.” Regardless of who was responsible, their complex relationship contributed to Jocelyn’s lifelong struggle with her self-image, which a friend remarked on, saying, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her not recovering from something,” acknowledging her distress over altering her appearance excessively.
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