A brilliant light went out with the passing of Michele Pommier, April 11, 2026, in Miami Florida. She passed while surrounded by the love of three generations of her cherished family after an arduous, heart-breaking battle with cancer. She was 78 years old.

Michele, daughter of Lorraine and Henri Pommier, grew up in Westport, Connecticut, and had her first experience in front of the camera at age fourteen with Milton H. Greene, celebrity and fashion photographer based in New York City. As a college student “Glamour” magazine selected her for their college issue and soon Michele signed with the renowned Eileen Ford Agency in New York City. By the 1970s her image was ubiquitous, gracing the covers of fashion magazines, including Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, and McCall’s, modeling clothing by Halston, de la Renta, Von Furstenburg and more. She became nationally recognized in the Virginia Slims’ popular “You’ve Come A Long Way Baby” advertising campaign, and as “the Clairol model”. It wasn’t long before she appeared in a worldwide beauty campaign for L’Oréal Cosmetics and became internationally recognized.

Michele traveled the world extensively during her illustrious modeling career, including exotic locations with wild animals in the backdrop. But she desired more than living a life of hopping on planes. In 1975, she chose to raise a family with her husband, Peter Diel, move from New York City and put down roots in Miami, Florida.

At that time, Miami was unaccustomed to models of Michele’s experience and caliber. Other models began asking her advice about their careers and so it happened that she resolved to share her knowledge and open her own model agency in 1979.

She had an innate and discerning eye for talent and beauty. She saw the extraordinary potential of Miami Beach to become an undeniable Mecca for fashion, film, television and creative enterprise.

Although the old neighborhoods had become run-down, Michele extolled the cultural heritage of the Art Deco architecture, and became a trailblazing presence advocating for beautiful white beaches, turquoise water, palm trees, and the most fabulous light for photography. Her business acumen and vision succeeded in giving impetus to other model agencies to rise in the area with tremendous commercial interest to follow, electrifying and further revitalizing Miami Beach.

Michele’s agency managed several divisions and hundreds of models with special care given to her “Pommier Kids”. Her model agency portfolio listing models and services became a voluminous hardcover book. For her flourishing business she and her husband built “The Pommier Building” on Washington Avenue, literally helping to regenerate the area. 

Michele was a woman of dedication and drive, with an unshakable love for her family. She was the mother of two, took care of her parents, family and friends through health, hardship, and

good times. For Michele, compassion was an action word. If she fought for you, you had a valiant proponent on your side. She lent her name, her models, resources and good will whenever she could, and still found the time to help raise funds for charities like MADD, Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Camps, and the Gary Hall, Jr. foundation for diabetes. 

Michele Pommier discovered, guided and championed generations of models, actors, artists and future celebrities, among them Christy Turlington, Charlize Theron and Catherin Zeta-Jones. Her vision fulfilled, Miami Beach became the global fashion destination she knew it could be.

Her legacy lives on not only in the world of fashion that she worked tirelessly to build, but in the countless lives she touched, the successful careers she established, and the generosity, beauty and brilliance she brought to all who knew her. Michele has now entrusted her life’s work and spirit of magnanimity to her daughter Jacqueline, who will continue Michele Pommier Models.

Michele’s family, who are holding her forever in their hearts are: her husband, Peter Diel, son David Diel, his wife Karlee, and daughter, Love; her daughter, Jacqueline Pommier Diel, fiancé, Grant Fazekas and son Henri; her sister Monica Pommier Kravitt, her husband Martin Kravitt,their daughter Alex Woodward, her husband Brian Woodward and daughter, Anna Grace; her sister Denise Pommier Johnson and her partner, Frank Wright, and Denise’s daughters Danielle Johnson Walker, her husband, Justin Walker, and son, Jackson, and daughter Jessica

Johnson Sherwood and her son Sammy; Michele’s late brother, Marc’s sons, Max and Niel Pommier and their mother Nathalie; cousins Paul Alony, Vivienne Pommier Gray and their families, extended family members, lifelong and dear friends near and far.

The family suggests that donations can be made in remembrance of Michele to: the American Cancer Society, South Beach Cats and the Miami Beach Community Cat Program.