Donatella Versace has opened up about the nightmares and insecurity she suffered following the death of her brother Gianni Versace.
Speaking about the years that followed the murder of the famous designer, who was gunned down on his Miami mansion doorstep in 1997 aged 50, Donatella admitted she was in ‘hell’.
Revealing that she felt forced to put on a front for the fashion world as well as her staff as she took over the business, the mother-of-two, 62, described herself as wearing a ‘mask’ to hide her insecurity and fear of failure.
Describing the earth-shattering pain following the death of her older sibling, she told The Times: ‘I hid myself behind this mask, first because I was in pain for so long for the way Gianni died.
‘All of a sudden my world, this big castle was crashing. I couldn’t show my pain or my insecurity because if I did then I couldn’t go ahead.’
Donatella Versace has opened up about the nightmares and insecurity she suffered following the death of her brother Gianni Versace in 1997
Describing her coping tactic, she explained: ‘I decided to wear this mask, to say we’re going to make it, we’re strong, don’t worry. Inside I was very insecure and struggled for a long time.’
And despite appearing strong on the outside, the pressure of taking over her brother’s successful business weighed heavily on Donatella.
Although her first collection following his death was a success, the brand started to deteriorate, before almost going under in 2004.
She admitted she experienced ‘tear-filled’ nights for many years as she was plagued by nightmares.
Speaking about the years that followed the murder of the famous designer, who was gunned down on his Miami mansion doorstep aged 50, Donatella admitted she was in ‘hell’ *Gianni seen with Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington before his tragic death)
But despite describing the time as hell, Donatella came out the other side, with the company flying high following an overhaul.
Admitting that experiencing insecurity helped mould her into the business woman she is today, Donatella said was driven by her desire to prove ‘80% of the fashion world wrong’ over their belief that she would fail.
Giving her insight into the current movement of helping women feel empowered in the workplace, the Italian designer admitted she has felt disadvantaged by her gender.
Describing how the ‘sea of men’ in a boardroom struggled to listen to a ‘blonde with make-up and bright clothes’ at first, she admitted it took a while to be taken seriously as she took over her brother’s role.
And becoming a successful career woman as well as divorcing the father of her two- children has made Donatella realise she doesn’t need a man, adding: ‘I’m very independent. I don’t need a husband or companion.’
Revealing that she felt forced to put on a front for the fashion world as well as her staff as she took over the business, the mother-of-two described herself as wearing a ‘mask’ to hide her insecurity and fear of failure (seen with Vogue Editor Anna Wintour in 2018)
‘I hid myself behind this mask, first because I was in pain for so long for the way Gianni died’, she admitted (seen with Giani a year before his death in 1996)
Her interview comes as the first scenes of BBC2’s The Assassination Of Gianni Versace air, the new series telling the story of his tragic death.
Hollywood actress Penelope Cruz takes the role of Donatella Versace, though the series has not been approved by the Versace family.
On 15 July 1997 Gianni Versace, aged 50, was gunned down on the doorstep of his lavish ocean-front Miami mansion by serial killer Andrew Cunanan.
The 27-year-old man had murdered at least four others in a three-month killing spree before turning up at the fashion designer’s home.
Cunanan was found dead in a Miami houseboat eight days later, apparently shooting himself with the same gun that killed Versace.
Twenty years on, it is not known whether the murder was planned or carried out at random.
On 15 July 1997 Gianni Versace, aged 50, was gunned down on the doorstep of his lavish ocean-front Miami mansion (seen) by serial killer Andrew Cunanan
Hollywood actress Penelope Cruz takes the role of Donatella Versace in BBC2’s The Assassination Of Gianni Versace- a series about his murder