Plastic surgery gained significant popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, with many people, particularly celebrities, opting for procedures to eliminate perceived imperfections. While some individuals deny undergoing surgery, attributing their flawless appearances to self-care or genetics, the downside is that many develop an addiction to these procedures, always seeking more. A notable example is Jocelyn Wildenstein, a New York celebrity and socialite, famously known as “Catwoman.”
Raised in Switzerland in a lower-middle-class family, Jocelyn quickly realized that her looks could be the key to improving her life.
At 17, Jocelyn began a relationship with Swiss film producer Cyril Piguet. However, two years later, they parted ways, and she relocated to Paris. In Paris, she found love again with Italian-French filmmaker Sergio Gabbi.
“My life changed then. Lausanne is very plain, but I began meeting exciting, glamorous people,” she once shared with New York Magazine.
Jocelyn Wildenstein developed a passion for hunting and became a skilled pilot.
She frequently traveled to Africa for hunting, and it was during one of these trips that she met her future husband, billionaire Alec Nathan Wildenstein.
Although Alec’s father opposed the marriage, Alec once stated that he had no issue with his wife but simply didn’t believe in the institution of marriage.
Jocelyn and Alec had two children and shared a beautiful marriage for 13 years, until she discovered him in bed with a Russian model.
Their divorce became one of the most talked-about events at the time. Jocelyn received a record-breaking $2.5 billion settlement, along with an additional $100 million each year for 13 years. One of the most controversial aspects of the settlement was a clause prohibiting her from spending any of the money on plastic surgery.
If you’re curious about the reason, just look at her face—particularly her distinctive “cat” eyes and strikingly high cheekbones.
Several magazines have stated that Jocelyn has reportedly spent approximately $6.7 million on various procedures. The journey began in 1979 when she and her ex-husband Alec chose to undergo surgery. According to reports, she mentioned that he had “baggy” eyes and expressed a desire for hers to resemble the shape of a cat’s eyes.
Jocelyn Wildenstein had a hard time deciding when it was enough.
Her extravagant look, which resembles that of a big cat, brought her the nickname “Catwoman,” or “The Lion Queen.”
Despite her significantly altered appearance, Jocelyn insists that her look is still partly natural.
“If I show you pictures of my grandmother, what you see is these eyes — cat eyes — and high cheekbones,” she explained.
Reflecting on her past struggles, her late ex, who passed away in 2008 at the age of 67, once commented, “She was crazy. I would always find out last. She was thinking that she could fix her face like a piece of furniture. Skin does not work that way. But she would not listen.”
Her current fiancé, French designer Lloyd Klein, whom she began dating in 2003 and got engaged to in 2017, expressed in an interview with Daily Mail TV that he couldn’t understand why Jocelyn is referred to as “The Catwoman.”
“[Jocelyn Wildenstein] never really did anything to change her face. I have pictures from 16 years old where she looks exactly the same as today,” he remarked.
Despite having undergone numerous procedures, Jocelyn maintains that she looks almost identical to how she did in her younger years. “When we are young, there’s a certain freshness we lose with the years. But you still find the same eyes, same high cheeks, or same nose. I think I was more pretty,” she shared with The Reporter.
Jocelyn has made an effort to keep her life out of the public eye, avoiding the spotlight. However, her publicist Brandon Cohen revealed to Page Six in 2021, “She now really wants to talk about her life, what drove her, how she built a business with her fiancé in the craziness of their life together in New York.” It seems that a documentary about her extravagant life is currently in production.
The 84-year-old socialite made an appearance at Paris Fashion Week in late September/October this year, and fans quickly noticed that Jocelyn Wildenstein had once again altered her face.
According to sources close to her, Jocelyn Wildenstein is said to struggle with moving her lips due to the surgeries.
The topic of Jocelyn’s appearance recently gained more attention when Oli London, a British internet personality known for undergoing numerous cosmetic surgeries to look like Jimin, a member of the K-pop group BTS, shared a video featuring Jocelyn on X (formerly Twitter).
Many people took the opportunity to comment, voicing their concerns about Jocelyn Wildenstein’s transformed face.
Billionaire socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein who has been dubbed ‘Catwoman’ shows off her new face, despite denying extensive plastic surgery and claiming her looks are down to her ‘Swiss Heritage.’ pic.twitter.com/FQ0S2yeVzg
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) November 28, 2024
One user commented, “The doctors who did this to her face should be in jail,” while another remarked, “With that amount of plastic, she would require to be recycled in New York, just sayin’.” A third user wrote, “Her face looks like it’s just about to explode, the skin is stretched so tight!!! Like when you blow up a balloon too much. She is scary looking.”
On the other hand, there are those who defend her, stating that as long as her appearance brings her happiness, it’s her choice to make decisions about her own life and health.