Christina Cassini, also known as Tina, was the only child of the famous fashion designer Oleg Cassini and the Hollywood star Gene Tierney. She had a glamorous and privileged upbringing, but also a troubled and tragic life. She died of ovarian cancer on March 31, 2015, in Paris, France, at the age of 66.
A Star-Studded Family
Christina was born on November 19, 1948, in New York City. She was the second daughter of Oleg Cassini and Gene Tierney, who had married in 1941. Her parents were both celebrities in their own right. Oleg Cassini was a renowned fashion designer who dressed Jackie Kennedy and Grace Kelly, among others. Gene Tierney was a beautiful and talented actress who starred in films such as Laura and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.
Christina had an older sister, Antoinette Daria Cassini, who was born in 1943. However, Daria suffered from severe mental and physical disabilities due to Gene Tierney contracting rubella during her pregnancy. Daria spent most of her life in institutions and died in 2010.
Christina grew up surrounded by glamour and fame, but also by turmoil and tragedy. Her parents divorced in 1952, after Oleg Cassini had an affair with Grace Kelly. Gene Tierney remarried twice, but both marriages ended in divorce. She also struggled with depression and bipolar disorder, and attempted suicide several times. She wrote a memoir about her life, titled Self-Portrait, in 1979.
A Life of Struggle and Pain
Christina inherited her mother’s beauty and her father’s flair for fashion. She also inherited their artistic talent and pursued a career as a painter. She lived in Paris for most of her adult life, where she raised four children: two daughters, Delphina and Jasmina, and two sons, Alexander and Cedric.
However, Christina also faced many challenges and hardships in her life. She had a difficult relationship with her father, who remarried Marianne Nestor Cassini in 1971. Marianne was accused of isolating Oleg Cassini from his family and friends, and of manipulating his finances. Christina sued her stepmother several times over her father’s estate, which was worth $60 million.
Christina also suffered from ovarian cancer, the same disease that killed her mother in 1991. She battled the illness for years, but could not afford proper treatment or medication. She died in poverty in Paris on March 31, 2015, never having received the inheritance that her father had left for her.
A Legacy of Love and Art
Despite her tragic fate, Christina Cassini left behind a legacy of love and art. She was remembered by her children as a loving and devoted mother, who always encouraged them to follow their dreams. She was also remembered by her friends as a kind and generous person, who had a passion for painting and music.
Christina’s paintings were exhibited in several galleries in Paris and New York. Her style was influenced by impressionism and expressionism, as well as by her own emotions and experiences. She painted landscapes, portraits, still lifes, and abstract compositions. Some of her works can be seen on her website.
Christina Cassini was a woman who lived a life full of beauty and sorrow. She was the daughter of two legends, but also the victim of their misfortunes. She was a talented artist, but also a neglected heiress. She was a loving mother, but also a lonely soul. She died too soon, but she left behind a lasting impression on those who knew her.
