Donatella Versace's Biography
Donatella Versace is a fashion icon and the designer of the fashion house Versace. She stepped into the role following the tragic death of her brother Gianni Versace, who founded the brand that revolutionized luxury lifestyle fashion.For more than two decades, she's captivated fashion lovers with groundbreaking collections, racking up countless awards and accolades. The designer is friends with many celebrities, and Lady Gaga even dedicated a song to her titled "Donatella." Her current net worth stands at $400 million.
Childhood, Youth, Family
Donatella was born in the spring of 1955 to Antonio and Francesca Versace in the southern Italian city of Reggio Calabria. Her mother, a well-known seamstress, owned her own atelier and shop, while her father worked as a salesman.The couple had four children – two sons and two daughters – but tragically lost their eldest, Tina, to tetanus when she was just twelve.
Growing up, Donatella was constantly surrounded by her protective brothers Giovanni and Santo. Later, she would say:
It was also Gianni who convinced Donatella to go blonde. She has kept that hair color ever since.Gianni made me his closest friend when I was twelve. He made me cool leather miniskirts, took me to discos, and treated me like a woman. I loved the craziness and noticed the envious looks of my friends when we went to rock concerts late at night. It was the happiest time of my life. I felt grown up, but still had everything ahead of me. I thought my whole life would be like that.
After graduating from the University of Florence in the early seventies, she moved to Milan to join Gianni, who'd already launched the fashion house. While Donatella pitched herself for public relations, Gianni recognized her true talents and made her advertising director instead. Santo managed the financial side of the business, and their family business began to thrive.
Career in the Fashion World
In the 1980s, Donatella took charge of the Versus youth clothing line, which her brother had entrusted to her. She didn't disappoint: she excelled as a designer and brought bold new ideas to the brand.She suggested that the clothing lines be showcased not only by professional models but also by celebrities. Versace brought Madonna, Halle Berry, and Demi Moore to the shows, which helped the brand's fame explode across Europe and America.
In 1995, under the Versace brand, Gianni released the perfume Blonde, dedicated to his sister. This became his farewell gift to Donatella: in 1997, a killer named Andrew Cunanan murdered the couturier at his home in Miami. The killer took his own life when the police apprehended him.
Gianni Versace's final official collection was FW97. When Donatella took the final bow for the SS00 season, she was stunned by what her brother's will revealed:
Donatella and her brother Santo received 20% and 30%, respectively. The designer admitted that after Gianni's death, she felt like the entire world was watching her, with 99% of people expecting her to fail. Confident and brilliant in public, she'd come home and cry all evening, not fully grasping that her brother was gone and that she could only rely on herself. She confessed:The will was insane, but all creative people are insane. Gianni worshipped my daughter and always called her 'my little princess,' but his will placed a huge burden on her. To become front-page news at eleven... I wouldn't wish that on any child. By giving half of the Versace brand to my daughter, he made me responsible for the company until Allegra came of age. Without this clause in the will, I could have walked away from the company after his death.
But by pulling herself together, Donatella didn't just continue the family business – she actually increased the brand's success and significance in the fashion industry. She constantly pushed for something new, creating collections with more feminine pieces while maintaining Versace's signature style: brightness, sexuality, and glamour. Meanwhile, Versace did everything she could to stop private investigator Frank Monte, who was obsessed with writing an exposé about the Versace family and digging up information from the investigation materials about Gianni, whose farewell ceremony was attended by Princess Diana, famous designers, and celebrities. Donatella continued to work, stunning fans with new masterpieces. Among them was the very daring "jungle dress" or "green Versace dress," worn by Jennifer Lopez on the red carpet at the 42nd Grammy Awards (2000).I was comfortable working in Gianni's shadow. I did plenty, but all the public attention went to him – and the criticism too. That suited me perfectly... After his death, I realized that everything now depended on me... I asked myself: will I ruin everything Gianni built?
To support the brand's prestige, Versace created the luxury resort "Palazzo Versace" in Australia, followed by a lavish hotel in Dubai. Donatella and her team designed a custom furniture and bedding collection specifically for them.
Versace was invited to appear in various films about the fashion industry. She appeared in the comedy "Zoolander" with Ben Stiller and was mentioned in the dramedy "The Devil Wears Prada" with Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.
In 2013, the biographical film "House of Versace" was released, with Donatella played by Gina Gershon, and in 2018, the second season of "American Crime Story" - "The Assassination of Gianni Versace" was released, with the designer's sister portrayed by Penélope Cruz. With her SS18 collection show dedicated to Gianni, Donatella outdid herself: it turned out to be truly feminist and very bright. The finale was especially powerful: together with Versace, Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Carla Bruni, and Helena Christensen took to the runway in sparkling evening dresses, proudly showcasing Versace's inimitable style.
Personal Life of Donatella Versace
Recalling her youth, the designer said that despite her short height and not being conventionally beautiful, she never lacked admirers.In 1983, Donatella married actor and model Paul Beck. They had two children – daughter Allegra (born 1986) and son Daniel (born 1989). Her married life with Beck lasted until 2000.
In 2004, Donatella gave love another shot, marrying model Manuel Dallori, but the union lasted just one year. After that, Versace filed for divorce and did not marry again.
At one point, she became obsessed with reinventing herself. Once she went under the plastic surgeon's knife, Donatella underwent a series of procedures: rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, lip surgery, laser skin resurfacing, zirconium teeth implants, and Botox injections.
Donatella Versace Now
During Milan Fashion Week, Donatella presented the new Spring-Summer 2023 collection. She used her favorite technique – provocation.Just before the show, Donatella opened up to journalists about designing Britney Spears' wedding dress. She described it as an incredible experience filled with joy and excitement. The singer and her fiancé Sam Asghari invited Versace to the wedding, and the celebrity was among the most honored guests.
Interesting Facts
- Most fans assume Donatella Versace only took over the company after her brother's tragic death. But the truth is, a few years before Gianni Versace died, doctors diagnosed him with a serious illness: inner ear cancer. As the disease progressed, the legendary designer became a recluse for almost two years. Donatella later revealed that during his treatment and surgery, she handled everything, bringing sketches to her brother at home for his approval.
- Versace believes masculine models—like Paul Sculfor, Cameron Diaz's ex-boyfriend—sell men's clothing better. But she's concerned about how trendy music influences the fashion industry:
The music industry greatly influences how people want to see models. Look at the 1990s—when Nirvana and Oasis dominated music, super skinny male models were all the rage. Even now, show business is full of metrosexuals. But that pushes a lot of people away from fashion. I want the image that will truly sell men's clothing.
- Donatella Versace can surprise not only the public but also her competitors. Once, Givenchy's creative director Riccardo Tisci boldly called Donatella and asked her to be the face of his new campaign. When she agreed, he was genuinely shocked—and Versace said working with Riccardo was pure pleasure. "There shouldn't be competition when it comes to shared goals," she believes.
- Many of Donatella's admirers say she has another gift—spotting new talent. She brought in then-unknown Christopher Kane (now co-owner of his own brand), Jonathan Anderson (now creative director of Loewe and owner of his company), and Anthony Vaccarello (now creative director of Saint Laurent) to collaborate. Versace states:
I love working with young, talented people—they inspire me. I never get jealous of someone who's more gifted than me or comes up with ideas faster. I stay in creative dialogue with everyone who fascinates me. All these guys are very dear to me. They're a new generation speaking a completely new fashion language. In this business, you have to keep exploring—constantly searching for something new and fresh. You can't get stuck in one moment, even if it's your most successful one. You need to fuel creativity by constantly setting yourself challenging tasks.