Donatella Versace Height, Age, Husband, Children, Family, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Donatella Versace

• Donatella Versace was born in Reggio di Calabria, Italy and she is the youngest of four children.

• Her older sister, Tina, died of a tetanus infection at the age of 12.

• While she was studding literature and languages in Florence, she would come over to Milan to work with her brother Gianni, who was working at the Callaghan fashion label. But Donatella’s mother wanted her to focus instead on her studies.

• Donatella was persuaded by her brother Gianni to dye her hair blonde at the age of 11, in honor to the Italian singer Patty Pravo, of whom Gianni was a big fan.

• Donatella was only ever interested in a career in the fashion and model industry.

• In 1976, Donatella and Santo went with their brother Gianni in Milan. They travelled to the United States in 1977, in search of press and overseas buyers in anticipation of starting the Versace brand.

• The Versace brand was established in 1978, Donatella was employed as vice president, and she collaborated with her brother Gianni across all projects.

• In 1982, Gianni sent Donatella to an auction where she placed the winning bid on the palazzo at Via Gesu 12 in Milan which later became the Versace headquarters and showroom.

• Versace has been involved in various charitable causes. In 1993, Donatella and Gianni Versace published the book named South Beach Stories and they donated all proceeds to Amladis. She continued to be a part of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

• In 1996, while Gianni Versace was recovering from a cancer in his left ear, Donatella took over much of the decision-making for the Versace brand.

• On July 15, 1997, Donatella’s brother Gianni was shot and killed outside his Miami Beach home by American serial killer Andrew Cunanan.

• In 1998, Versace organized a benefit fashion show in support of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund which raised thousands of dollars for the charity.

• On 18 July 1998, after a year and three days of Gianni’s death, Donatella Versace mounted her first haute couture show for the Versace Atelier at the Hôtel Ritz Paris.

• At the 42nd Grammy Awards (2000), Jennifer Lopez wore the Green Jungle Dress, which gained a lot of media attention and was highly publicised in the media. The dress was designed by Versace herself. The dress worn by Lopez is known to have been downloaded over 600,000 times within 24 hours of the Grammy’s night.

• She fought a cocaine addiction for 18 years until 2005. She was also a heavy smoker, she quit smoking as well in 2014.

• Lady Gaga wrote the song named Donatella from her album Artpop (2013) for her.

• The plot of the television series American Crime Story season 2 narrates the murder of Donatella’s brother Gianni. Donatella’s character was portrayed by Penélope Cruz.

• In 2023, Versace designed a strapless safety pin dress with white tweed, pearl accents and camellia flower details which was worn by Anne Hathaway at the Met Gala.

• The character Donatello Versus in Stone Ocean, Part 6 of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga is named after her.

• She is an avid dog lover. She has a pet dog.