Donatella Versace

Donatella Versace is an Italian fashion designer and the sister of designer Gianni Versace. Donatella was born in Italy and was first exposed to the fashion world through her mother, who worked as a dressmaker. In 1973, she moved to Florence in order to study to become a teacher, but she later left school to help Gianni start what would become the luxury fashion brand Versace.

Upon the Versace brand being founded in 1978, Donatella was made vice president of the company. She was often consulted by her brother on different lines within the brand and was later granted creative control of Versace’s Versus and Young Versace lines. The designer helped to arrange many fashion shows for the brand and organized advertising campaigns with the likes of Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé.

Donatella was named artistic director of Versace after Gianni’s death in 1997. She continued to build on the brand’s artistic vision and went on to design pieces such as Jennifer Lopez’s iconic green dress from the 2000 Grammy Awards.

In 1986, she wed to former model Paul Beck. The pair share daughter Allegra Versace Beck (born in 1986) and son Daniel Paul Beck (born in 1989). They divorced in 2000. The designer later tied the knot with Manuel Dallori in 2004; the twosome split the following year.