Deyci Alejandra Omana Ortiz, better known as Amaranta Hank, has been sworn in as a senator in Colombia after winning a seat on a platform that includes protecting the rights of adult content creators.
Ortiz, 33, took office in Bogotá as a member of the left-wing Historic Pact coalition. She was elected in March in the Norte de Santander region and has pledged to push for legal protections and social security benefits for people working in the adult entertainment industry.
Before entering politics, Ortiz worked as a journalist and later became an adult film performer in 2017 under the stage name Amaranta Hank. She left the industry in 2019 and has since focused on political and social advocacy.
One of her key campaign issues is the regulation of adult content work in Colombia. Ortiz argues that adult content creators remain vulnerable to exploitation because the industry lacks clear legal protections and labour rights.
"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 in a campaign video.
Ortiz has also responded to criticism over her past career, questioning why women who have worked in the adult industry should be excluded from public office.
"Why can't a woman who was in the adult industry aspire to a popularly elected office?" she said, pointing to examples of adult entertainers who later entered politics in other countries.
She says her experiences have shaped her understanding of inequality, personal freedom and economic challenges faced by marginalised workers.
"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," Ortiz said.
She added that society often consumes adult content while denying those involved a voice in positions of influence.
"The problem is that society consumes adult films but denies us the possibility of speaking in spaces of power," she said.
The Historic Pact coalition, founded by outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro, currently holds the largest bloc in Colombia's Senate with 25 seats. Ortiz secured her position after being listed 23rd among the coalition's Senate candidates.
Beyond advocating for adult content creators' rights, Ortiz has also campaigned for improved mental health services and stronger measures to prevent sexual abuse.
"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," she said.
Her election marks an uncommon political journey and has brought renewed attention to debates around labour rights, representation and the legal status of adult content work in Colombia.
