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

Donatella Versace worked side by side with her brother, Gianni, to help create one of the biggest fashion houses in the world. When her brother was murdered in 1997, Donatella was left to continue Gianni’s legacy. While the new season of American Crime Story will focus on her brother’s death, viewers will also see Donatella’s relationship with Gianni before his death and her impact on the company afterwards. Here, must-know facts about the designer before the premiere of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story on January 17 on FX. 

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She’s close friends with Lady Gaga.

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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.
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