Allegra Versace, daughter of Donatella Versace, has been reluctant to step into the spotlight until now. When Gianni Versace died, he left Allegra a 50% stake in the fashion house, which makes her the majority shareholder of the business. In a new interview with Italian magazine La Repubblica, Allegra has spoken for the first time on stepping into a designing role at the historic fashion house, and has also spoken about her battle with anorexia.
Allegra admits in the interview that she was first shy about working for Versace, because she didn't know much about the business [translated from Italian]:
"I have asked my mother — I was reluctant at first, because I know little of finance — but then I realized that it was necessary for me to understand, participate, learn of this world." The idea made me very uncomfortable, then I calmed down. I have already started working in the office — they are all boys of my age, and I managed to convince them that I am not a mistress, but like them in that I have the ability to do this creative work ... I am the only unpaid one, that's the one difference. We became friends, often we go out together. "
She says of her time studying in America and recovering from Anorexia:
"I call this my period of absence, I was lost in other thoughts and couldn't confront reality, with my eyes shielded from everything. Above all, I wanted one thing — to be no one, to not be recognized, not be hunted down. I studied theater, and it pleased me greatly to play parts in little independent films that perhaps no one went to see. For example, I really loved Little Miss Sunshine. Still, anywhere I went, I was a Versace. I couldn't escape, and it did me harm. I hated Los Angeles. However I did have beautiful moments. For example, when I was in New York, Rupert Everett played in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, and I, behind the scenes, acted invisibly as a dresser."Allegra says she would prefer not to be known for her name, and reveals that she has spent time working for another designer:
"Definitely, I still prefer the anonymity. I've spent some time working with a non-Italian designer, I've been helping him organize fashion shows, the advertising, also helping with the creative part. But the great part about this work is that I am no one! They pay me, also, of course — for now not enough to live without worries — but I think you can get used to everything, if you feel free, if you are yourself and not what others want you to be, if you don't see a photographer around every corner, if you do not bury yourself in cruel gossip that does so much harm."
On how she is different from her mother Donatella:
"We are so close even if she is different from me — she is impetuous and determined, I am reflective and quiet. She uses celebrity in the service of work; I hate that celebrity."
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