HANDLED WITH STYLE Allegra, Donatella Versace

The Italian designer confirmed years of speculation when she told The Insider on Tuesday that Allegra Beck Versace was being treated for an eating disorder. That raised the question: Why now?

Versace's spokesman said the announcement was a response to "numerous media reports" about Allegra's health, including some saying she was down to 70 pounds and was near death. Those, in turn, appear to have been triggered by photos taken of the 20-year-old heiress over a month ago, showing her walking outdoors with a plastic tube snaking out of her nose. (Blog posts such as this one claimed it was a naso-gastric feeding tube.)

Starting about three weeks ago, a major photo agency shopped the series around to magazines, seeking $50,000 for them, but was unable to find a buyer.

Asked about the photos, the Versace family's spokesman declined to elaborate on his earlier statement.

Photo: Splash News & Picture Agency