Ex-porn star sworn in as senator in Colombia
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A former adult film actress, Deyci Alejandra Omaña Ortiz, known as Amaranta Hank, has been sworn in as a senator in Colombia.
- Ortiz won a Senate seat on a platform advocating for the rights and protections of adult entertainment workers.
- She will represent the Norte de Santander region for the leftist Historic Pact bloc and aims to address issues including mental health and sexual abuse.
Deyci Alejandra Omaña Ortiz, a former adult film actress widely known by her stage name Amaranta Hank, has officially been sworn in as a senator in Colombia. Ortiz secured her seat following a March election victory, campaigning on a platform focused on advocating for the rights and protections of workers within the adult entertainment industry.
Representing Colombia's Norte de Santander region, Ortiz will serve as part of the leftist Historic Pact bloc for the 2026-2030 parliamentary term. The Historic Pact currently holds significant political influence, having secured over 4.4 million votes, translating to 25 seats in the Senate. Ortiz, who transitioned from journalism to the adult film industry before re-entering public life, has asserted that her past career should not impede her legislative duties.
According to Infobae Colombia, Ortiz argues that women engaged in the sexual economy make substantial financial contributions to the nation and deserve legal recognition rather than continued societal stigma. She addressed critics questioning her suitability for office in a TikTok video, asking, “Why a woman who was in the adult industry cannot aspire to a popularly elected office?” Born in Cúcuta, Ortiz also plans to champion initiatives related to mental health and sexual abuse during her tenure.
Her entry into the Senate is considered a notable development in Colombian politics. This follows earlier controversy surrounding her appointment, along with fellow former performer Juan Carlos Florián, to a deputy minister position within the Ministry of Equality under President Gustavo Petro's administration.
¿Por qué una mujer que estuvo en la industria para adultos no puede aspirar a un cargo de elección popular?
Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.