OG Fashion Influencer Chiara Ferragni is on Trial for Aggravated Fraud.

A charge that carries a possible prison sentence of 1 to 5 years under Italian law

For over a decade, Chiara Ferragni has been untouchable. A front-row fixture. A digital-era fashion pioneer. A woman who turned personal style into one of the most powerful influencer empires the world has ever seen. Today, she stands at the centre of a courtroom story that could change everything.

Ferragni first rose to prominence in 2009 with the launch of her blog The Blonde Salad. What began as street-style selfies and personal fashion diaries quickly evolved into a multi-million-euro global brand. She built collections, collaborated with luxury powerhouses, sat on corporate boards, and amassed nearly 30 million Instagram followers - long before “influencer” was a fully recognised industry.

But in late 2023, the sheen cracked.

Italian prosecutors allege that Ferragni misled consumers during high-profile charity-linked campaigns involving a designer Christmas cake (pandoro) and branded Easter eggs.

The products were marketed in a way that suggested proceeds from sales would support children’s hospitals and charitable causes. Investigators now say the donations were fixed in advance and not tied to the volume of sales, despite the impression given to the public. The products, meanwhile, were sold at premium prices.

The charge? Aggravated fraud.

If convicted, Ferragni could face between one and five years in prison, with prosecutors reportedly seeking a sentence of around 20 months. Her legal team maintains that there was no criminal intent and that the matter has already been addressed through fines and settlements. But the damage ;reputational, commercial, cultural - is already done.

Brand partnerships have evaporated. Public trust has shifted. And the wider influencer industry is once again being forced to confront its most uncomfortable questions:Where does marketing end and manipulation begin? And what happens when charity becomes content?

This trial is no longer just about Chiara Ferragni. It’s about power, perception, and accountability in the age of digital celebrity. The verdict may determine not only her legacy , but the future rules of influence itself.

Prosecutors are reportedly seeking around 20 months. Possible outcomes range from: Acquittal or reduced penalties, a suspended sentence and financial penalties or a conviction with potential jail time.

Regardless of the legal result, the scandal has already caused significant reputational damage, loss of brand partnerships, and a wider industry reckoning around transparency in influencer marketing - especially where charity is involved. This case may ultimately reshape how influencers globally promote causes, disclose partnerships, and build consumer trust.