Toukie Smith, one of the most well-known models of the 1970s, died Wednesday in a New York hospital at 74 after a "long and brave battle" with multiple sclerosis, according to a statement from her twin children, Airyn and Julian, whom she had with her ex-partner, Robert De Niro, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
The statement from Airyn and Julian states that their mother "was part of a remarkable family legacy that helped shape American fashion and culture" and that "her beauty, elegance, and unmistakable presence paved the way for generations of Black models and designers in the fashion world."
Toukie Smith and De Niro were a couple from 1988 to 1996; their twins were conceived through in vitro fertilization and born via surrogate, according to the outlet. "Toukie was a force of nature," expressed Airyn and Julian. "She left an indelible mark on our hearts and on those who were lucky enough to know her."
Smith worked as a model for her brother, fashion designer Willi Smith, who passed away in 1987, as well as for other major designers like Hubert de Givenchy, Thierry Mugler, Issey Miyake, and Patrick Kelly, and for renowned photographers like Jean-Paul Goude and Guy Bourdin, according to the same outlet.
Toukie Smith joined the sitcom 227 in 1989 and regularly appeared in its last two seasons until May 1990. Additionally, she appeared in three episodes of Miami Vice.