Donatella Versace

Born in Reggio Calabria in 1955, Donatella Versace grew up as muse and confidante to her older brother Gianni, joining the family house in the late 1970s and shaping its accessories, advertising, and Versus diffusion line throughout the 1980s and 90s. When Gianni was murdered in 1997, she stepped into the role of chief creative officer, steering Versace's signature codes — Medusa hardware, baroque prints, second-skin glamour, supermodel theatrics — through three decades of cultural shifts. Under her direction the house re-anchored Hollywood red-carpet dressing, revived the 2017 tribute show with the original supers, and cultivated a new generation of pop ambassadors. In 2025 she handed the creative reins to Dario Vitale while remaining chief brand ambassador.