Donatella Versace says models are "rarely" intelligent.

The legendary fashion designer has blasted modern catwalk stars, insisting they are no match for supermodels such as Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford.

She is bored with fashion houses trying to appear high brow, stating most models just want to have fun in fancy clothes.

"There is an idea of neutrality in models now. Little make-up, no expression, like a robot... That is very stupid. It is almost as if the models have to have the appearance of something serious, to give an intellectual base, but they themselves are rarely like that," Donatella told Love magazine.

"And the roots of fashion are essentially fun. It is something that women wear to make themselves feel better, that shouldn"t be forgotten. When you take the joy out of fashion, it is not fashion any more. If you are going to be very clever, too clever, be a scientist. I am not a scientist."

Donatella shies away from calling herself an icon, claiming only people like her later brother Gianni Versace should be referred to as such. Gianni was shot dead in 1997, with Donatella taking the reins of the fashion house from then on.

She refuses to take fashion too seriously, and is determined it should be light hearted and enjoyable. Donatella is a huge fan of flamboyant clothes, and loves to dress in lavish attire.

"I don"t even know what my natural colour is. Natural? What is natural? What is that? I do not believe in totally natural for women. For me, natural has something to do with vegetables," she said.
Source : stuff.co.nz