Former adult film actress Deyci Alejandra Omaña Ortiz, widely known by her stage name Amaranta Hank, has officially been sworn in as a senator in Colombia after securing election on a platform centred on protecting the rights of adult content creators and other vulnerable groups.
The 33-year-old lawmaker took the oath of office on Monday in Bogotá as a member of the country’s left-wing Historic Pact party, marking a dramatic transition from the adult entertainment industry to national politics.
Ortiz, who worked as a journalist before joining the adult film industry in 2017, left the profession two years later to pursue a political career. She was elected in March to represent Colombia’s Norte de Santander region.
Making the protection of adult content creators one of her key legislative priorities, Ortiz said workers in the industry have long suffered discrimination, exploitation and the absence of legal safeguards.
In one of her campaign messages, she argued that the industry has been neglected by the government.
“These women have been unprotected by the state because, due to misinformation, prejudice and double standards, no one has declared to regulate it,” she said.
Addressing criticism over her past career, Ortiz rejected suggestions that her history in the adult entertainment industry should disqualify her from holding public office.
“Why can’t a woman who was in the adult industry aspire to a popularly elected office?” she asked.
According to the newly sworn-in senator, her personal experiences exposed her to discrimination and social inequality, lessons she intends to bring into the country’s legislative process.
“My experience allowed me to understand inequality, the struggle for freedom and the popular economy, arguments that I now promise to bring directly into legislative debate,” she said.
She added, “The problem is that society consumes adult films but denies us the possibility of speaking in spaces of power.”
Beyond advocating for stronger legal protections for adult content creators, Ortiz said she would champion improved mental health services and tougher measures to prevent sexual abuse.
Celebrating her electoral victory, the senator expressed gratitude to her supporters and optimism about Colombia’s political future.
“I feel embraced by my people,” she said.
“There is a political transformation underway that still has a long way to go, but the important thing is that it has already begun in some way.”
Ortiz’s election has drawn widespread attention both within Colombia and internationally, with supporters describing her victory as a testament to changing political attitudes, while critics continue to debate the role a candidate’s past should play in public service.
