Designer L'Wren Scott has been found dead in her apartment.
The 47-year-old celebrated fashion designer - who was dating Rolling Stones star Sir Mick Jagger - was found hanging from a scarf on a doorknob in her home in Manhattan, New York, earlier yesterday, police told the New York Daily News newspaper.
The body is said to have been found by her assistant at her 200 11th Avenue address at around 10 o'clock this morning and although it's been claimed that police do not suspect foul play, the Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause of death.
Click for gallery: What killed L'Wren Scott?
L'Wren has previously spoken out about her hate for being referred to simply as Mick Jagger's girlfriend as she wanted to be recognised for her own talents, although she often used the rocker as her muse.
She said previously: "I'm a fashion designer. I don't want to be defined as someone's girlfriend.
"You always wonder if people will pay attention to the hard work that goes into what you do. And when you're taking something on your own, it's your company, your investment - your life."
The former model designed all of her 70-year-old boyfriend's outfits for the Rolling Stones' 50th anniversary tour.
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L'Wren was in debt when she died
L'Wren Scott was £3.5 million in debt when she died.
The fashion designer was found in her New York apartment this morning (17.03.14) having apparently taking her own life, leaving her friends, family and partner - The Rolling Stones singer Sir Mick Jagger - devastated.
According to accounts for her business, LS Fashion LTD, which were filed in the UK in October 2013, the company was in trouble, with a deficit of £3,546,000 and the designer owing creditors £4,593,000.
Friends have said the former model - known for her headstrong ways - had always refused financial help from her multi-millionaire partner of 13 years.
Speaking about L'Wren's fashion label, which she started in 2006, a source told MailOnline.co.uk: "L'Wren was in a lot of financial trouble. She was unable to pay her staff and her suppliers and it had been going on for a very long period of time.
"She wanted so badly for things to be a success. Whereas she got her outfits on a number of high profile people, the clothes were not a commercial hit and didn't fly off the shelves. It was a huge burden on her and she didn't want to fail.
"Everyone was very much left wondering why she didn't ask Mick for help. But she didn't. Things were left a long time and she spent the past few months struggling to pay the vast amount of her outgoings. It was a tragic situation and she kept it from everyone.
"Her staff expected the company to go under and her fabric suppliers and tailors were close to ending their working relationship. The bills just weren't getting paid."
A spokesperson for Mick - who is currently on tour in Australia said he is "completely shocked and devastated" by his partner's death.
L'Wren, who is a former model and stylist, had cancelled a show at London Fashion Week in January, saying at the time fabrics arrived too late for samples to be sewn for the event. It is now thought the real reason was her financial difficulties.
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Mick Jagger 'devastated' by L'Wren Scott's death
Sir Mick Jagger is "completely shocked" by the death of L'Wren Scott.
The Rolling Stones singer was on tour with the band in Australia when he was informed his partner of 13 years has died of an apparent suicide on Monday (17.03.14).
His spokesperson said: "He is completely shocked and devastated by the news."
The assistant went to the apartment and let herself in after receiving instructions to do so by text message from L'Wren.
A New York police department spokesperson said: "At approximately 10.05 hours police responded to 200 11th avenue.
"Upon arrival, officers discovered a 49-year-old female, unconscious and unresponsive. Emergency Medical Services also responded and pronounced the aided DOA [Dead On Arrival] at the scene. The investigation is ongoing and the medical examiner will determine the cause of death."
L'Wren - a former model, who stands at 6' 3" - had met Mick on a photo shoot in 2001 when she was working as a stylist. They started dating, but didn't appear together publicly until 2005, when they attended the Golden Globes ceremony. In recent years they had divided their time between New York and London - where she has a design studio - and also owned a flat in Paris together.
After years as a successful model and stylist, L'Wren launched her own brand in 2006, which became a favourite of many celebrities, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Obama and Christina Hendricks.
Her friend, actress Nicole Kidman, said of her clothing: "She knows what aspects to accentuate in a woman, and is able to make you feel incredibly sexy and sophisticated when you are in one of her exquisite designs."
L'Wren was born Luann Bambrough in Utah and raised by adoptive parents before moving to Paris while still a teenager to work as a model.
Her fashion career also included designing costumes for films, including 1996's 'Diabolique', 'Ocean's Thirteen', 'Eyes Wide Shut' and 'Shine a Light', a documentary about The Rolling Stones.