Penelope Tree is the only child of Ronald, a British journalist, investor and Conservative MP, and Marietta Peabody Tree, a U.S. socialite and political activist. She is the great-granddaughter of American retailer Marshall Field and of American educator Endicott Peabody. She is the half-sister of both the racehorse trainer Jeremy Tree and the author Frances FitzGerald and a niece of former Massachusetts governor Endicott Peabody.

Her family initially objected to her career as a model, and when she was first photographed at the age of 13 by Diane Arbus, her father vowed he would sue if the pictures were published.

Tree made a striking appearance at the 1966 Black and White Ball thrown by author Truman Capote, wearing a black V-neck tunic with long slashes from the bottom making floating panels, worn over black tights that she created herself with designer Betsey Johnson.

The following day she was called up to the office of Diana Vreeland at Vogue, becoming a muse to legendary American photographer Richard Avedon with whom she created some of the most enduring fashion images of the 20th century.

In 1968, Tree moved to London's Primrose Hill neighbourhood with photographer David Bailey. John Lennon encapsulated her in six words, calling her “Hot, Hot, Hot, Smart, Smart, Smart”. She has been extensively compared to The Beatles for inspiring the swinging 60's movement and for galvanizing a generation of young Americans..

In 1972 Penelope moved to Australia marrying South African musician Ricky Fataar (a member of The Flames, The Rutles, and the Beach Boys). She has two children, Paloma Fataar (a graduate of Bard College and a student of Tibetan Buddhism and music), and Michael MacFarlane, by her relationship with Australian Jungian analyst Stuart MacFarlane.

Penelope Tree is a patron of Lotus Outreach, a charity which works in Cambodia in partnership with local grassroots women's organisations to give girls from the very poorest families the wherewithal to go to school.

Penelope Tree lives in london and is represented worldwide by models1

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Penelope Tree