Gigi Hadid, Hailey Bieber, and Ashley Graham lead the tributes after the shock passing of Ivan Bart over the weekend.
The former president of IMG Models passed away at the age of 60 following an unspecified, short illness.
Earlier this year in March, he departed his top post at IMG Models after 30 incredible years at the world-renowned modeling agency.
During his decades-spanning career, he shaped the careers of iconic supermodels including, but not limited to, Carolyn Murphy, Stephanie Seymour, Kate Moss, Gisele Bundchen, Joan Smalls, Kate Upton, and Tyra Banks.
His death was confirmed by Mark Shapiro, the president and COO of Endeavor, the parent company of IMG Models.
Remembering his legacy: Gigi Hadid, Hailey Bieber, and Ashley Graham lead the tributes after the shock passing of Ivan Bart over the weekend. The former president of IMG Models passed away at the age of 60 following an unspecified, short illness
‘It is with overwhelming sadness and deep regret that I share that Ivan Bart, long-time president of IMG Models and a trailblazer in the fashion industry, passed away over the weekend,’ he wrote in an email to the company’s employees, according to Women’s Wear Daily.
‘During the course of three decades at IMG Models, Ivan quite literally changed the shape and face of the modeling industry from within,’ Shapiro continued. ‘His relentless pursuit for diversity and inclusion challenged fashion’s gatekeepers and created household names whose omnipresence has inspired generations.’
In 2018, Bart received the Social Impact Award at FIT’s Annual Awards Gala and gave a touching speech, in which he said: ‘What we see in advertising and the runway must reflect who we all are.’
He famously advocated for plus-size models such as Candice Huffine, Ashley Graham, Precious Lee, and Zach Miko.
After hearing about his tragic passing, Graham and a plethora of supermodels took to Instagram to share their tributes honoring their late friend.
Graham shared a post to her Instagram Story, thanking him for being ‘such a champion of mine’ and her ‘forever friend’.
‘I am still processing the news and know I will continue to do so in the in the [sic] coming days, weeks and months,’ her post began.
‘You were one of the most integral parts of my career, your impact has moved mountains and broken down so many walls for myself and so many others,’ she continued.
‘An icon’: After hearing about his tragic passing, Graham and a plethora of supermodels took to Instagram to share their tributes honoring their late friend. Graham shared a post to her Instagram Story, thanking him for being ‘such a champion of mine’ and her ‘forever friend’
‘Legend’: In her touching tribute, Gigi Hadid gushed over the ‘legend’, her close friend she called ‘Forever “My Boss”‘
‘You were such a champion of mine,’ she gushed about Bart. ‘I can’t thank you enough for the opportunities you have created for me, the time you invested in me, and the help you have given to navigate such a harsh industry.’
She said he was ‘a storyteller, an icon, a problem solver, a forever friend’ before adding: ‘I miss you so much already and I love you forever, Ivan.’
Gigi Hadid began her touching tribute by saying: ‘Ivan. I don’t yet have words for this loss.
‘I will never forget your spirit and hugs, your support and fight for others,’ she continued. ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.. for everything.
‘Rest In Peace Legend,’ she wrote at the end of her note. ‘Mr. Bart. Forever “My Boss.” You are so loved’.
Her father, Mohamed Hadid, wrote a lengthy caption, gushing about how Ivan was ‘a wonderful human and the ‘most gentle [of] souls’.
‘Most gentle souls .. a wonderful human I am sadden with this news,’ he wrote.
‘He was a guiding light to every one that touched his life,’ he continued. ‘God bless his soul. My condolences to his family and his friends … he was loved.’
Touching comment: Her father, Mohamed Hadid, wrote a lengthy caption, gushing about how Ivan was ‘a wonderful human and the ‘most gentle [of] souls’
A slew of tributes: A plethora of A-list names such as John Legend, Hailey Bieber, Cindy Crawford, and Emily Ratajkowski took to the comments section of the post shared on Ivan Bart’s official account to share their condolences
Hailey Bieber left a short but sweet message in the comments section alongside three broken heart emojis: ‘Love you Ivan.’
Runway icon Cindy Crawford also commented, ‘Oh no! Sorry to hear this sad news’.
Model and former actress Emily Ratajkowski left three broken-hearted emojis under the post.
Singer-songwriter John Legend shared a broken heart emoji and wrote simply: ‘Oh my god’.
Shanina Shaik wrote in the comments: ‘I’m heartbroken omg ! A blessing to have known you Ivan … you will be missed !’
Rachel Zoe also left a sweet note on the post in response to her friend’s passing.
A blessing: Shanina Shaik wrote that she was ‘heartbroken’ and said it was ‘a blessing to have known Ivan’
Best of the best: Rachel Zoe commented that the tragedy meant ‘we have lost the best of the best’
Heartbroken: Georgia May Jagger said that she was heartbroken by the tragic news
‘I am at a loss,’ she began. ‘My heart is broken. I have known and loved Ivan since the day I started in the industry.’
She added: ‘We have lost the best of the best ..one of one’.
Georgia May Jagger commented, ‘This is so heartbreaking I can’t believe it. I am so sorry’.
Bart is survived by his husband, Grant Greenberg, his family, many friends and the IMG family, Shapiro said in the company email.