Eileen Ford, co-founder of modeling agency Ford Models, passed away at the age of 92 on Wednesday in Manhattan.
No cause of death has been announced for Ford, but she was recently in the hospital recovering from a fall.
"Eileen loved [husband] Jerry and her family and her friends," her daughter Katie Ford said in a statement to People.
"She was interested in everyone, and truly LOVED her husband of 64 years, Jerry, and her children, Jamie, Billy, Katie and Lacey, and her brothers Tom, Bill, and Bobby, and her grandchildren Tiger, Gerard, Jamie, Gered, Alessandra, Isabel, Will and Emma (and her adored five great grandchildren."
Ford co-founded the legendary modeling agency with her husband Gerald Ford more than six decades ago. Her agency lifted modeling up from a hobby into a highly desired occupation and also made household names out of Candice Bergen, Ali MacGraw, Brooke Shields, Naomi Campbell and many others.
During her time handling the talent at Ford Models, she was known for being quite strict, according to The Associated Press, and demanding professionalism from those she hired. All models were placed on strict diets and discouraged from partying late at night.
"I think our success came from Eileen's energy and her bluntness, and to some extent, her comfort with confrontation," her husband said in a 1997 interview with USA Today.
But while Ford was known to be quite strict, she was also described as treating newer models much like a parent, including even bringing them to temporarily live with her until they had adjusted.
image courtesy of INFphoto.com