Cicciolina: Porn star, politician and pop icon of Europe

Ilona Staller (born 1951 in Budapest), also known as "Cicciolina," is one of the most famous pornographic actresses in European history. The Hungarian emigrated to Italy in the 1970s and became a household name through a radio talk show with the risqué title "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi? " (Do you want to sleep with me?). In the 1980s, she starred in numerous softcore and hardcore films and shocked prudish Italy in 1978 when she became the first person ever to bare her breasts live on television. In 1987, she achieved a remarkable feat: Cicciolina was elected to the Italian Parliament as a member of her Party of Lovers! As a " porn star in parliament ," she made headlines worldwide, particularly for offering, among other things, sex for peace to Saddam Hussein. After her political career (and a brief marriage to artist Jeff Koons), Ilona Staller remained a pop culture icon. In German-speaking countries, she is known as a legendary porn actress and scandalous politician, a living example of how pornography, pop and politics can merge.