Versace niece takes her stake

Allegra Beck, Gianni Versace’s favourite niece, turned 18 today and took possession of the inheritance from her late uncle – 50% of the fashion house.

The inheritance had been held in trust since Gianni Versace was gunned down on the front steps of his Miami Beach mansion on July 15, 1997, when she was 11.

While the company has remained under family control, it is laden with debt.

She is the daughter of Gianni’s sister Donatella, the company’s designer, and ex-model Paul Beck.

Allegra has told friends she wants to study acting in New York. She has so far shown no interest in following the family’s fashion footsteps.