Amaranta Hank has begun her first term as a Colombian senator after taking the oath of office with the country’s newly elected lawmakers.
The former journalist and adult film star secured a seat in the Senate through the Historic Pact coalition, which won enough seats in the March congressional elections to send her to Congress.
Rather than distancing herself from her past, Hank has embraced it, saying her experiences shaped her understanding of discrimination and social inequality.
She has urged people to judge her by the work she does in office instead of the career she left behind.
Her legislative priorities include expanding legal protections for adult-content creators, improving access to mental health services and strengthening policies aimed at preventing sexual abuse.
Hank’s arrival in the Senate has attracted attention both inside Colombia and abroad, where many continue to follow her unusual path into politics.