Donatella Versace

Donatella Versace, the former creative director of Versace, has been a prominent figure in the fashion world for decades. She has been instrumental in shaping the brand's direction and image, serving as Versace's chief brand ambassador and overseeing many of the company's iconic advertising campaigns for almost 28 years until her departure in 2025. Versace's influence has extended beyond the fashion industry; she has played a significant role in the supermodel phenomenon of the 1990s, cast editorial models on the runway, and designed the famous green Versace dress worn by Jennifer Lopez at the 42nd Grammy Awards in 2000. Her fashion design acumen has been recognized with numerous awards, including the De Beers Diamonds International Award, the Bambi Award for Fashion, and the World Fashion Award as Designer of the Year.

Versace's work has also extended to the hospitality sector with the design of luxury resorts Palazzo Versace Australia and Palazzo Versace Dubai. In addition to her design work, she has made cameo appearances in popular culture, such as in "Zoolander", and has been the subject of parodies in "Saturday Night Live" and "Ugly Betty". Notably, in 2012, she was a speaker at the prestigious Oxford Union, further demonstrating her wide-ranging influence and appeal. In 2018, she received the noteworthy distinction of becoming the first woman to be named as the Designer of the Year at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in the UK and in China.

In recent years, Versace has been increasingly recognized for her commitment to social causes. She was honored with the Game Changer Honor at the Green Carpet Fashion Awards and the Humanitarian Award for Equity and Inclusivity at the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italia Sustainable Fashion Awards. She was active in efforts to end COVID-19 and participated in various charity fashion shows, including one in China aimed at providing aid.