Model Jeremy Ruehlemann has died at the age of 27. A cause of death for the New Jersey native has not yet been released.
Fashion designer Christian Siriano, who considered Ruehlemann his muse, shared a touching post on Instagram on Sunday.
The post was a series of photos from Ruehlemann’s modeling moments, as well as some of Siriano and Ruehlemann together.
“I’ve never posted anything like this before but losing a friend who was such a beautiful soul is just really hard,” Siriano captioned the post. “This is for Jeremy, the most beautiful man who gave so much love to everyone he met no matter what.”
He wrote that Ruehlemann “was and always will be one of my muses. He inspired me and I will love him forever.”
Jeremy Ruehlemann has died at the age of 27. His latest Instagram post was a behind-the-scenes look at what appeared to be a photoshoot with the Tommy Hilfiger brand
Fashion designer Christian Siriano, who considered Ruehlemann his muse, shared a touching post on Instagram on Sunday
Siriano continued, “Sending all my love to his family and friends who have lost someone so special. I know we will meet again one day, but right now I just want to hug him. Have a good rest, we all love you so much! Please send love to his family today.’
Ruehlemann was represented by Soul Artist Management, as well as the London and Miami branches of Next Models, Core Hamburg, IMM Brussels and The Mgmt in Sydney, according to Footwear News.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Ruehlemann was a Mahwah, New Jersey native who worked as a camp counselor and majored in psychology in school before departing in 2017 to pursue a modeling career.
Since then he has walked several Siriano catwalk shows and modeled for brands and designers such as John Varvatos, Joseph Abboud, Superdry, Macy’s, Zara, Nick Graham and Atelier Cillian.
The rising star has also appeared in GQ and Playhaus Magazine and has collaborated with Superdry and Perry Ellis.
Ruehlemann’s last Instagram post was a behind-the-scenes picture of what appeared to be a photoshoot with the Tommy Hilfiger brand, captioned “Bts with Tommy.”
Following news of the model’s death, Hilfiger’s younger brother Andy Hilfiger wrote in the comments, “So sorry” followed by a praying hands emoji.
Soul Artist Management’s Jason Kanner confirmed the model’s death on his social media accounts.
“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I inform you all that Jeremy Ruehlemann has passed away,” he wrote, alongside several professional photos of Jeremy.
“Jeremy was authentically himself. Salt of the earth. Something about him made you root for him,” Kanner continued. “His excitement about a big booking, his optimism when something didn’t work out. When you spoke to him, he listened with eyes and ears. He was truly one of a kind and always will be. Jeremy you are missed. You will hold a place in my heart and with your soul family that you loved so much. Please keep Jeremy’s family in your prayers. May God cover Jeremy and his family with protection and prayer. i will miss you jeremy Rest in peace sir.’
Soul Artist Management’s Jason Kanner confirmed the model’s death on social media
Ruehlemann’s LinkedIn bio shows that he attended Rowan University from 2013 to 2017, where he said he “fell in love with psychology and understood how people function mentally and emotionally.”
Ruehlemann left school four years into his five-year program, he said, to pursue his modeling career, a decision he said he’ll always be happy to have made.
“Firstly because I always planned to finish my education and secondly because the skills and experience I have gained over the last 5 years of modeling full-time, traveling and connecting with people from all over the world taught me more about how people work than any psychology class ever could,” he wrote in the LinkedIn bio.
A native of Mahwah, New Jersey, Ruehlemann worked as a camp counselor and studied psychology in school before departing in 2017 to pursue a modeling career
He has since attended Siriano’s shows and modeled for brands Superdry (pictured), John Varvatos, Joseph Abboud, Superdry, Macy’s, Zara, Nick Graham and Atelier Cillian
Ruehlemann, who has appeared in GQ and Playhaus Magazine, was represented by Soul Artist Management. Pictured: Ruehlemann walks in the 2018 Nick Graham S/S 2019 collection during NYFW Men’s July 2018 at Cadillac House
Tributes for the model have been pouring out on social media since news of his death.
Famed makeup artist Hung Vanngo took to Instagram to mourn Ruehlemann’s death and wrote that the news broke his heart.
“He had such a huge impact on everyone he met,” he wrote.
“You meet a lot of people in this industry, but he was one of those people, even if you met him once, he would be a part of your heart forever. My team and I love and appreciate the time we had with him. A true friend, you will be loved and remembered forever. RIP Jeremy.’
Halston creative director Ken Downing wrote: “Goodbye sweet Jeremy. RIP Jeremy Ruehlemann. Love to your family who adored you just as they love and adored you. My heart is broken.’
Ruehlemann’s LinkedIn bio showed that he attended Rowan University from 2013 to 2017, where he said he “fell in love with psychology and understood how people work.”
Ruehlemann left school four years into his five-year program to pursue his modeling career, a decision he said he will always be happy to have made. Ruehlemann is pictured at NYFW in 2018
Ruehlemann’s childhood friend Gianni Simpson posted a tribute on Facebook, where he shared memories of their time together at Odyssey Teen Camp.
“All day I’ve been trying to gather my thoughts and what to even say. We both met when we were young, 15 and 17,” he wrote. “We bonded because we felt our parents couldn’t handle us as troubled teenagers and sent us both to OTC for 4 weeks! We were instantly inseparable and both connected through our lives of music, sports, fashion tattoos, etc.
Simpson continued, “Basically I’m saying what Gianni liked about Jerm and what Jerm liked about Gianni. We grew up together every summer for 2 years after that and would have called each other for anything. You definitely saw me emotionally at my worst and best and I can’t thank you enough for the friendship and love you’ve given me over the past 10 years bro. I love you forever and to hear the news that you are gone really broke my heart. You will be in my heart forever! From your little big brother, I love you.’