Mayte Garcia Says Prince Was 'My Everything': 'He's with Our Son Now'
She was the inspiration behind Prince's hit "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World," and now Mayte Garcia is mourning the loss of her former husband, whom she tells PEOPLE exclusively was her "everything."
"I can't even think of the words of what I'm feeling," says Garcia, who also shared a photo with PEOPLE of herself with Prince that hangs in her home, in a statement through her manager Gladys Gonzalez. "This man was my everything, we had a family. I am beyond deeply saddened and devastated."
Garcia first met Prince in 1990 and was ultimately hired to dance on one of his tours. The singer-songwriter went on to produce an album for her and they wed in 1996 in Minneapolis.
In 1996, Garcia and Prince lost a son, Gregory, a week after he was born to Pfeiffer syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects the skull and bones in the hands and feet. They formally divorced in 2000.
"I loved him then, I love him now and will love him eternally," she continues. "He's with our son now."
Remembering Prince: Fans Recall Legendary Singer's Greatest Moments
The seven-time Grammy winner was found dead at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota, according to the Carver County's Sheriff Office, which is currently investigating the circumstances of his death.
"It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning at the age of 57," his publicist confirmed. "There are no further details as to the cause of death at this time."
