Diane Masters, a high fashion model from Australia, had a successful career that spanned several decades. One of the highlights of her career was modeling Hall Ludlow’s Gown of the Year in 1959, a stunning ensemble made of hand-fringed Australian white wool. Diane’s career began accidentally in the 1940s when she was talent-spotted in the street and asked to join a parade, eventually leading to her being chosen as Miss Pink Champagne. She had a brief stint in the movies in the late 1940s, understudying for Margaret Leighton in the film Bonnie Prince Charlie.
After her first marriage ended in divorce, Diane married John Masters, who passed away shortly after. She then married the Australian architect Frederick Romberg in 1961, with whom she had two children. Diane and Frederick later moved to Newcastle, where he was a professor of architecture at the University of Newcastle. In 1975, they relocated to Melbourne, where Frederick continued his architectural practice. He passed away in 1992, and Diane went on to enjoy a companionship with Dr. Herbert Bower, a psychiatrist, until his death in 2004.
In her later years, Diane became a significant contributor to the history of Australian fashion, donating Hall Ludlow gowns to the Victorian College of the Arts and archiving records of her own career and her husband’s work. She was continually asked to write her autobiography, but she preferred to focus on recording the lives of others, including writing a book about her friend Laurie Carew, a window dresser for Georges store in Melbourne. She continued to be a style icon into her 80s and 90s, wearing bold and elegant outfits that complemented her silver hair.
Despite eventually succumbing to Alzheimer’s disease, Diane remained a warm and generous host, displaying a puckish sense of humor. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-granddaughter, and her sisters. Her legacy as a pioneering high fashion model and contributor to the preservation of Australian fashion history continues to be remembered and celebrated by those who knew and loved her.
