Celebrities and friends pay tribute to Charlotte Dawson, dead at 47

FRIENDS of TV personality Charlotte Dawson, found dead in her Sydney home today, paid tribute to a beautiful but tormented woman.

FRIENDS of television personality and model Charlotte Dawson, who was found dead in her Sydney home today, have paid tribute to a beautiful, clever, funny but tormented woman.

Police confirmed they found a body at Ms Dawson’s waterfront Woolloomooloo unit this morning. They said the circumstances were not suspicious.

Ms Dawson, 47, a judge for many seasons on the Foxtel reality TV series Australia’s Next Top Model (ANTM), was an influential anti-bullying and health campaigner and was prominent on social media, sending her last tweet around 5pm yesterday in support of a friend on Twitter who had stomach cancer. It read: “We have the hospitals/resources & the doctors and professors willing to help. Where is the govt support?”.

The star, who was had been hospitalised at least twice after suicide attempts in recent years, had a public history of depression.

TWITTER: Charlotte Dawson's nightmare

As the news of her death became public, friends and high-profile Australian identities mourned the loss.

Leading Australian designer Alex Perry, who was a judge on ANTM with Ms Dawson, tweeted:

“WE LOST A BEAUTIFUL, BRIGHT, SHINING GIRL TODAY ... REST IN PEACE MY SWEETHEART ...I LOVE YOU. X.”

Mr Perry told news.com.au that Ms Dawson had a “so much energy and such a sense of humour” but that she was tormented by her mental illness.

Foxtel executive director of television Brian Walsh described Ms Dawson’s death as tragic news.

“Everyone at Foxtel is devastated. Our sympathies are with Charlotte’s family and friends,” he said in a statement.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key tweeted: “Shocked and saddened to hear of Charlotte Dawsons death.”

Radio host Jackie O tweeted that she was “heartbroken to hear news that Charlotte Dawson has died. In shock right now. You will always have a special place in our hearts Charlotte.”

Television host David Campbell tweeted: “I am shocked and devastated at the news ... just saw her yesterday. So tragic.”

Channel Nine reporter Tom Steinfort said: “Just shocking news. Charlotte was the most entertaining company you could have when she was at her best, generous and funny.”

TV presenter Laura Csortan said it was devastating news.

“Charlotte was a beautiful person and it’s a very sad loss. She had so much more to give,’’ she said.

Television producer Adam Boland, who has been open about having bipolar disorder, wrote: “Devastated to hear about the death of Charlotte Dawson. I didn’t know her well, but it was clear she battled the black dog.”

News.com.au reported that Ms Dawson’s failure to attend a lunch appointment, and a 19-hour silence from her Twitter account, alerted a friend to contact the manager of Ms Dawson’s apartment building. A security guard discovered her body, the report said.

Ms Dawson gave an insight into her life — both her troubles and the highlights — in her autobiography, released late 2012.

In the book, Air Kiss and Tell, she revealed she had had an abortion with her former husband, Olympic swimmer Scott Miller, so that he would not have any distractions in the lead up to the Sydney Olympics.

She had been looking forward to having a baby but sensed “hesitation” in Miller.

”Everything Scott had done was leading up to this moment and nothing could stand in his way, so it was decided that we would terminate the child and try again later. Who needed a developing foetus when a gold medal was on offer, eh?”

Ms Dawson wrote that she was alone when she had the termination.

In he book she wrote that this was her first experience with depression — a battle she continued to fight for the next 14 years.

She was hospitalised in late 2012 after an extreme case of cyber-bullying on Twitter.

Two months later, accompanied by Channel Seven in Sydney, she travelled to Victoria to confront some of her worst online bullies. After speaking to her tormentors, Ms Dawson managed to forgive them and, afterwards, maintained a relationship with them.

She developed so many “friends” through social media, dozens and dozens of whom she had never met, but would always reach out to support when they were going through tough times.

Ms Dawson’s romantic life was tumultuous; in recent years she enjoyed the company of younger lovers but was still searching for someone to settle down with.

Ms Dawson often appeared on morning and breakfast television shows, last appearing on the Nine Network’s Morning Show yesterday.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

Additional reporting: AAP