From Adult Film Star to Colombian Senator: Daisy Omana’s Political Rise

Daisy Alejandra Omania Ortiz, once a journalist and later a prominent figure in Colombia’s adult entertainment industry, has embarked on an extraordinary political journey that has taken her from the media and the screen to the country’s national legislature.

The 33-year-old left-wing politician recently took the oath of office as a senator representing Colombia’s left-wing Historic Pact coalition, attracting widespread attention both at home and abroad because of her unconventional career path.

Colombian media reported that Omana was sworn in on Monday in the capital, Bogotá, after being elected to the Senate in March from the Norte de Santander region. Her election has placed her at the centre of a broader debate about political representation, social stigma and the rights of people who work in the adult entertainment industry.

Omana began her professional life as a journalist but left the field in 2017 and entered the adult entertainment industry. She became known professionally as ‘Amaranta Hank’ and gained considerable popularity during her time in the sector. However, within about two years, she decided to leave the world of adult entertainment and turn towards political activism.

Her political career has since focused heavily on issues affecting workers in the adult entertainment industry. She has argued that people involved in the sector need stronger legal protections to prevent exploitation by companies and agencies, while also calling for greater recognition of their social and economic rights.

During her Senate campaign, Omana criticised what she described as years of misinformation, prejudice and double standards surrounding the industry. In a campaign video, she argued that the state had failed to adequately protect women working in the sector and had not taken sufficient steps to establish an effective policy framework.

Her candidacy was not without controversy. Critics questioned whether someone with a background in the adult entertainment industry should seek elected office. Omana rejected that criticism, challenging the assumption that women who have worked in the sector should be excluded from public life or denied the opportunity to serve in positions of political power.

She also pointed to the example of Italian former parliamentarian Ilona Staller, better known as Cicciolina, who built a public profile in adult entertainment before entering politics and becoming a member of Italy’s parliament. For Omana, such examples demonstrate that a person’s professional past should not automatically determine their capacity to represent voters.

Omana has said that her own experiences have given her a direct understanding of discrimination, the struggle for personal freedom and the economic realities faced by marginalised communities. She has pledged to bring those issues into parliamentary debates and use her position to advocate for people whose concerns, she believes, have often been ignored by mainstream politics.

Her political agenda extends beyond the adult entertainment industry. The new senator has also expressed support for improved access to quality mental health services and has campaigned for stronger measures to prevent sexual violence and abuse.

Omana’s arrival in the Colombian Senate therefore represents more than an unusual career transition. Her story has opened a debate over whether political institutions should judge representatives by their previous professions or by the policies they advocate and the mandate they receive from voters.

As she begins her tenure in Congress, Omana faces the challenge of turning her campaign promises into legislative action. Her presence in the Senate is likely to keep questions of social stigma, workers’ rights, gender equality, mental health and sexual violence firmly on the political agenda, while her own past continues to make her one of the country’s most closely watched new lawmakers.