Lady Gaga goes virtually make-up free for Versace photoshoot

Lady Gaga has gone au naturel for her new role as the face of luxury designer brand Versace, wearing virtually no make-up for the advertising photoshoot.

The Applause hitmaker, who is known for her outrageous fashion, make-up and hairstyle choices both on and off the stage, wore her long, blonde hair sleek and straight as she posed for photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot, modeling the Italian company's finest wares.

The chic commercials, in which Gaga bears a striking resemblance to chief designer Donatella Versace in her youth, aimed to capture her "true beauty and spirit in images that are elegant and alluring".

The Versace boss adds, "She (Gaga) is like family to me, and the embodiment of the Versace DNA."

The photos will appear in the label's 2014 Spring/Summer advertising campaign.

Gaga recently paid homage to her designer pal by penning the track Donatella as a gift for her 58th birthday earlier this year (13). The song appears on the pop superstar's new album, ARTPOP.