Maggie Tabberer, fashion identity and former television presenter, has died at age 87.
Her family shared the news on social media:
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Born in Adelaide, she was discovered by photographer Helmut Newton in Melbourne at the age of 23 and became Australia’s Model of the Year in 1960.
She started writing a fashion column for the Daily Mirror newspaper in 1963 and began in television soon after as a panelist on Beauty And The Beast. She went on to host her own daytime show, Maggie, which won her TV Week Gold Logies for Best Female Personality in 1970 and 1971. During this time she also guest hosted The Mike Walsh Show in Melbourne.
Although her career continued largely in print media, including 15 years with The Australian Women’s Weekly, and launching plus-sized fashion label, Maggie T, she continued to make guest appearances on various television programs. She was also a regular visitor to Perth for Seven’s annual Telethon.
In the early 1990s she co-hosted The Home Show on ABC with her then partner Richard Zachariah.
In 2005, Tabberer joined Foxtel as host of an interview series Maggie … At Home With.
In 1998 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for service to the community, particularly through support for charitable organisations, and to the advancement of the Australian fashion industry.
Maggie Tabberer is survived by her two daughters, Amanda and Brooke.
Source: ABC, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. TV Week, 4 April 1970. TV Times, 9 September 1970.
