Donatella Versace has publicly confirmed for the first time that her daughter Allegra, 20, is being treated for anorexia. The heiress inherited half of the £300 million fashion empire upon turning 18 and is reportedly receiving specialist care.
In a statement, Donatella said: 'Our daughter, Allegra, has been battling anorexia, a very serious disease, for many years. She is receiving the best medical care possible to help overcome this illness and is responding well.' The 52-year-old designer appealed for privacy amid intense media scrutiny.
Rumours about Allegra's health had circulated online, with photographs showing her painfully thin frame. One website claimed she was 'barely hanging on to life' and that her weight had dropped to 5 stone. Donatella declined to discuss her daughter's weight but spoke out to end further speculation.
Allegra has been studying fashion in New York since 2004. Her uncle Gianni Versace was murdered in 1997, leaving her half of the business. Donatella, who has battled cocaine addiction in the past, is divorced from Allegra's father, model Paul Beck, and also has a teenage son, Daniel.
