7 JANUARY 2005

Madonna is to be the new face of an advertising campaign for the Italian label Versace, the fashion house confirmed Thursday. The deal has the pop star following in the footsteps of a long line of celebrities promoting perfume or fashion brands, including Nicole Kidman, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

"She's an icon," Donatella Versace says of Madonna. "She is an innovator, a groundbreaker and the best in her field. She relates to women of all ages. She's got extraordinary personal style and has been a friend of mine and the house for many years."

The fashion giant plans to invest $20 million into the campaign, $12 million of which will reportedly go to the 46-year-old Vogue singer.

The ad, whose theme will be women working in the office, will prmote the spring-summer 2005 range. Leading fashion photographer Mario Testino has been drafted in to shoot the images which will feature Madonna in day and evening wear against a luxury office setting.