Who Is Donatella Versace? 12 Things to Know Before Watching American Crime Story

When Donatella was 11, Gianni told her to dye her hair blonde, Ingrid Sischy revealed in a book she co-wrote with Donatella called Versace. “Back then Gianni was so obsessed with [Patty] Pravo, an iron-straight-haired ‘blond,’ that he persuaded eleven-year-old Donatella to dye her own hair just like his heroine,” Sischy writes. “They both knew their mother would have a fit, but the adoring younger sister went along with her brother’s invention of her new blond look.”

While Gianni was trying to establish himself as a designer in Milan, Donatella was attending the University of Florence. According to Britannica, she was studying to become a teacher and her major was in foreign languages. During this time, she would often make the trip to Milan to help Gianni with his designs when he was working for other designers.

Before Gianni's death, Donatella was known as his inspiration Gianni and “muse” for his various lines, according to Biography. She was even the main inspiration for one of Versace’s perfumes, Blonde. Gianni valued her critiques of his designs, though he preferred a more baroque style to Donatella's minimalism. "Donatella was a very powerful critic," one of Gianni’s friends, Guisi Ferre, told Newsweek. "And Gianni would yell, 'Donatella, you want to kill my spirit? My success?'" When the company was established in 1978, Donatella became Gianni’s advisor and took on the role of vice president. She began designing in the early 1980s.

Not only did Donatella inspire her brother with his designs, but she also proved herself after helping him plan some of his lines. Eventually, Gianni established the Versus line and give it to Donatella as a gift, according to Yahoo!. The brand was launched in 1989 as a way to reach younger audiences, the New York Times reported. Over the past few years, many celebrities have been seen wearing the line and some have even collaborated with Donatella on it, including M.I.A and, most recently, Zayn Malik.

Donatella married model Paul Beck in the 1980s and they had two children, Allegra and Daniel. Allegra was very close to Gianni and was left half of the company after his death. According to The Guardian, Daniel received Gianni’s art collection, which is reportedly now worth more than the 37 million pounds it was valued at after his death. Allegra now works for the company, where she serves on the board of directors.

When Gianni was sick with cancer, Donatella took over the business while he was undergoing treatment. “The last two years of Gianni’s life,” Donatella tells New York magazine, “I was going up into his apartment, showing him the work, getting the approval from him, but I ran the company because he wasn’t showing himself. It was like a year and a half I did everything.”

Lady Gaga and Versace have collaborated in many ways throughout her career, so it’s no surprise the pop superstar has a close bond with the head of the brand. Gaga was the first person to access the Versace archives, first doing so for her music video “Edge of Glory,” according to Fashionista. Versace was also the designer for Gaga’s Born This Way Tour. Gaga also starred in a Versace campaign in 2013. Gaga wrote a song for Donatella on her 2013 album Artpop, talking about her signature style and her work as a designer.“I'm blonde. I'm skinny. I'm rich and I'm a little bit of a bitch,” Gaga sings on the track. Donatella told JustJared that she loved the song. At last year’s Super Bowl, Lady Gaga wore Versace for her half-time show performance and Donatella even helped the star get ready, as seen in her documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two.

Donatella continues to honor her brother through the brand, more than 20 years after his death. Versace’s Spring 2018 collection is known as “The Versace Tribute Collection,” created by Donatella in honor of her brother. “This collection is a tribute to the life and works of Gianni. We pay homage to not only his artistic genius but to who he was as a man, and above all, as my brother,” Donatella wrote for the collection’s video. Five of Gianni’s original supermodels also walked down the runway in honor of Gianni.

Despite much of the excitement surrounding the show, the Versace family and brand released a statement saying they had no involvement in its production and it should be viewed as “a piece of fiction.” The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story is based on the book Vulgar Favors by Vanity Fair columnist Maureen Orth. Series creator Ryan Murphy told reporters the day after Versace released its statement that Donatella sent her portrayer, Penelope Cruz, flowers. Cruz said her portrayal of the designer is a “personal homage,” adding, “all the love and respect that I feel for her is in the performance.” Cruz also said she sought Donatella's permission and was granted it. While Donatella may not be watching the show herself, it seems like there are no hard feelings between her and Cruz.

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story premieres January 17 on FX.