Maggie Tabberer, a hallmark of Australian fashion and television, has passed away at the age of 87. Her daughter, author Amanda Tabberer, shared the sad news via Instagram, expressing profound loss for her mother, affectionately remembered as "our beautiful mother and Nanna."
Born in 1936 in Adelaide, Maggie began her modelling career in the late 1950s, earning the title of Model of the Year in 1960. She transitioned to publishing in 1963, writing a popular fashion column for the Daily Mirror and becoming a TV panellist on Beauty and the Beast the following year. Tabberer made history by securing consecutive Gold Logies for Best Female Star in 1970 and 1971, thanks to her own talk show, Maggie.
Beyond her television success, she served as fashion editor for Australian Women’s Weekly from 1981 to 1996, established the Maggie T clothing brand, and authored a bestselling autobiography in 1998. Her contributions to charity and fashion were recognised when she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the same year.
Maggie was also a celebrated art subject, appearing in two portraits nominated for the Archibald Prize. Even in her later years, she remained a prominent figure, gracing the cover of Australian Women’s Weekly in 2015. Her legacy endures, leaving a lasting impact on Australia’s cultural landscape.