Why Did Allegra Inherit Versace?

When Gianni Versace, the founder of the iconic fashion brand Versace was tragically murdered in 1997, many were left wondering what would become of his empire. The answer to that question came in an unexpected form- his niece Allegra Versace.

Allegra Versace was only 11 years old when her uncle passed away and left her with a 50% stake in the family-owned business. At such a young age, many questioned if she was capable of handling such a huge responsibility. However, over the years, Allegra has proven herself to be a formidable force in the fashion industry.

So why did Gianni choose Allegra as his heir? There are several reasons that could have influenced his decision.

Firstly, Gianni had an extremely close relationship with Allegra. She was his favorite niece and he doted on her since she was born.

In fact, he even named a handbag after her- the ‘Allegra’ bag. It’s possible that Gianni saw something special in her and believed she had what it takes to carry on his legacy.

Secondly, Gianni may have wanted to keep the business within the family. He was fiercely proud of his Italian heritage and felt that keeping Versace under family ownership would help preserve its authenticity and values.

Finally, it’s worth noting that Allegra’s mother Donatella Versace and her uncle Santo Versace were also heavily involved in the business and played important roles in its success. Therefore, it made sense for Gianni to leave a portion of his stake to someone who had close ties to these key players.

Despite initial doubts about her ability to run such a large company at a young age, Allegra has proven herself to be an astute businesswoman. She graduated from Brown University with a degree in French literature before joining Versace’s board of directors at just 18 years old. Since then, she has been heavily involved in the company’s operations and has a say in everything from design to marketing.

In conclusion, Gianni Versace chose Allegra as his heir for a variety of reasons- her close relationship with him, her family ties to the business, and her own potential as a leader. While some may have been skeptical about her ability to take on such a huge responsibility at a young age, Allegra has more than proved herself capable of upholding the Versace legacy.