A star on Big Brother and I'm A Celebrity has sadly passed away aged 60.
Naddel, the German TV icon whose real name was Nadja Abd el Farrag, passed away from organ failure at a clinic in Hamburg on May 9.
Her death was only made public days later, according to The Mirror.
Naddel's life was anything but ordinary — rising to fame as a singer, TV personality, and tabloid sensation, she was also known for her turbulent on-again, off-again relationship with music legend Dieter Bohlen, one half of the iconic German pop duo Modern Talking.
Bohlen, 71, paid a simple but heartfelt tribute to his former partner on Instagram, posting a video of the two performing together with the caption: "I am very sad. Rest in peace Nadja."
Born in Hamburg to a Sudanese father, Ibrahim, and German mother, Uta, Naddel’s early life was shaped by strict family dynamics. In several interviews, she described her father as very strict and said she was estranged from him for the last 15 years of his life.
Before fame came calling, she trained as both a chemist’s assistant and in retail, showing that her work ethic was there from the start.
Naddel’s big break came in 1989 when she met Dieter Bohlen and began working as a backing singer for his Blue System project. Despite her rising fame, she kept a part-time job at a hospice — a testament to her grounded side, even amid her growing celebrity.
She made major headlines in 1999 with not one, but two photoshoots for Playboy, captivating a new audience. The 2000s saw her star continue to rise, including hosting RTL2’s Peep and joining the first season of Germany’s I’m A Celebrity in 2004.
Fans across Germany have also been mourning her loss online, remembering Naddel not only as a celebrity but as a woman whose life was marked by ups and downs that played out in public.
One fan wrote: "Rest in peace, Nadja #naddel #RIP In my youth, you dominated the daily news about high society. Then came a rapid rollercoaster ride with ups and downs. Passing away at 60 is a truly tragic thing! She had to go through a lot in her much too short life - RIP 'Naddel.'"
Another posted: "NadjaAbdelFarrag You were fun, but it (life) wasn't all easy. #RIP #Nadja."
A third echoed the sorrow felt by many: "Nadja Abd el Farrag died at the age of 60. Far too early. #RIP #Naddel."
And another added: "Nadja Abd el Farrag has died. Also known as Naddel. Another former Jungle Camp participant is no more," The Mirror reports.