Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the life of Italian fashion icon Donatella Versace. Born in Reggio Calabria as the youngest of four children, Donatella began as her brother Gianni’s "creative partner and muse," eventually serving as Vice President of the Versace brand established in 1978. We explore how she helped define the brand's image by combining luxury with celebrity culture and is credited alongside Gianni for launching the "supermodel phenomenon" of the 1990s.

We discuss the tragedy that changed everything: the 1997 murder of Gianni Versace in Miami, after which Donatella assumed the role of creative director and her daughter, Allegra, inherited 50% of the company. You’ll hear about Donatella’s triumphs, including the design of Jennifer Lopez’s famous green "Jungle-Dress" for the 2000 Grammys—a garment so popular it inspired the creation of Google Images.

Finally, we cover her personal battles and her future legacy. We touch upon her 18-year struggle with cocaine addiction, her cameos in pop culture films like Zoolander, and the Lady Gaga song written for her. We also look at the end of an era: Donatella's March 2025 announcement that she will step down as CEO after nearly 28 years leading the brand.