'True icon' Madonna

Jan 10, 2008, 13:30 GMT

Madonna coming out of a shop in Mumbai, India, 09 January 2008. Madonna arrived in Mumbai yesterday afternoon with her family. EPA/STR

Madonna is "a symbol of modern womanhood", according to Donatella Versace.

The 'Hung Up' star - who was the face of Versace's Spring/Summer range in 2005 - has been branded a "true icon" by the famous fashion designer.

Donatella said: "The word 'icon' is overused, but in the case of Madonna I believe it has some meaning. She is a true icon. She has become a symbol of modern womanhood - confident, ambitious, dynamic, constantly reinventing herself.

"In 2005 Versace was involved in a process of reinvention with me, a blonde woman, at its helm, so I thought it would be appropriate to have Madonna as the representative of the brand.

"She is also a friend of mine and my late brother Gianni so there is a sense in which she symbolised the way in which Versace was staying true to its DNA, while evolving for the 21st century."

Donatella, 52, also revealed her current celebrity muse is 'Enchanted' heartthrob Patrick Dempsey.

She told Britain's The Independent newspaper: "Patrick's charisma, which defines him both on and off screen, was what led me to choose him to represent Versace menswear. That, and his classic good looks, of course. He has a real masculinity about him."

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