LONDON, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Stella Tennant, one of Britain's top models, died suddenly at the age of 50, her family said Wednesday.

"It is with great sadness we announce the sudden death of Stella Tennant on Dec. 22," her family said in a statement.

"Stella was a wonderful woman and an inspiration to us all. She will be greatly missed," said the statement.

Tennant, the granddaughter of a duke, attracted attention from the fashion industry in the 1990s and soon achieved success as a model.

Without disclosing the cause of her death, Tennant's family asked for privacy and said arrangements for a memorial service would be announced later.