A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

A Guide to All Creative Directors

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«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy

The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself

«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself

Ilona Staller, known worldwide as Cicciolina, is a multifaceted figure who has managed to capture the public's attention in every incarnation: artist, erotic icon, actress, and even parliamentarian. More than a diva, at the peak of her career, Cicciolina became a phenomenon, a collective dream, and above all, one of the most disruptive figures in the Italian landscape, among those responsible for demonstrating that a porn star can have the depth of an artist in a country often as moralistic as Italy. Many memories are encapsulated in the book Memorie - Racconto fotografico di un mito, which documents the entire story of the diva who provoked all of Italy, from the film set to politics, through entertainment and radio. But what is Ilona Staller doing today? Her days, as she tells us, are perhaps less hectic than in the past but no less full: «In the evening, I like to go to bed early because I love to dream. Moreover, I always dream in color, never in black and white». Dreams, for her, represent an important aspect of her life, almost an extension of her creativity. «When I wake up, I have breakfast and rush to the gym, which is essential in my life». Each workout session lasts about two hours. Ilona spends the afternoon between moments of relaxation and work. «I browse the internet, take care of my website, answer emails, and then take some walks». Unmissable is the time dedicated to her beloved cats: «I play with my cats, I have eight at home». Evenings, on the other hand, are often dedicated to public events. «In the evening, I go out to dinner, talk with friends, and maybe if I have an event at a nightclub or need to go to a restaurant as a guest of honor, I go». Cicciolina's life, however, is anything but monotonous: «This is my typical day, but it always changes».  

«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551730
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551733
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551732
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551731
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551730
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551733

You cannot talk about Cicciolina without mentioning her career in the adult film industry, which made her an international icon. After her first steps in erotic cinema in the 1970s, Cicciolina embarked on a career in porn that established her as one of the most iconic figures in the industry. Her rise began in 1983 with the film La conchiglia dei desideri, and continued with great successes like Telefono rosso and Cicciolina number one, until her retirement from the scene in 1991. Her character contributed to a new vision of sexuality in the 1980s, transforming into a symbol of sexual freedom and provocation, bringing porn into the mainstream spotlight. «My porn career didn't last many years because I was the number one porn star. I made about 15-20 porn films, and they were very beautiful», she proudly recounts.  The character of Cicciolina was born in the 1970s during her broadcasts on Radio Luna. Cicciolina was not only a porn star but also a successful singer and radio host, able to mix provocation and entertainment, as evidenced by her long career in radio and television. «I used to talk on the air about sexuality, sweetness, love, everything related to sex», she explains. The nickname was a spontaneous invention: «I called them “cicciolini” and, since the listeners liked it, from one broadcast to another, I became Cicciolina». For Ilona, the name has a deep meaning: «Cicciolina means love». The character, which she describes as «a sweet, eternal, uninhibited, wonderfully naked girl», represents for her a world of erotic dreams that could become reality. Her films, now hard to find, have become cult objects. «My videos are not easily found around, at least not easily, because they have become iconic videos, just like my character, which is an icon». 

«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551726
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551729
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551728
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551727
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551726
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551729

A crucial moment in Cicciolina's life was her meeting with Riccardo Schicchi, a visionary director and photographer. Riccardo Schicchi, director and producer, distinguished himself for its management of industry stars and the production of erotic films that mixed provocation and social criticism, further consolidating the link between the sex industry and the country's popular culture. «My meeting with Riccardo Schicchi happened through an answering machine. I lived in Rome and had an answering machine where one morning I found a flood of messages from Riccardo Schicchi. He said: “I am a photographer and I need to meet you because we need to take photos for a magazine”».  Schicchi and Cicciolina formed an unforgettable artistic partnership: «We went to parks, abandoned houses, sulfurous water pools to take photos». Ilona emphasizes the authenticity of those images: «The slides from back then were all original, not like photos today that can be retouched».  Cicciolina has never disowned this phase of her life: «I have never said that I want to eliminate pornography from my life story. That part remains and will remain for life».  Ilona recalls with amusement an episode during the filming of a movie: «There was a guy, a university student, who just to have sex with me that day became a porn star. He brought a condom with him, but he couldn't put it on - also because his size was quite large. I was helping, but they all broke. All of them, all of them, all of them!». 

«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551721
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551725
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551724
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551723
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551722
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551721
«Kisses from Cicciolina»: interview with the diva who provoked all of Italy The story of Italy's number one porn star as told by herself | Image 551725

Cicciolina has always maintained that Italians love sex and pornography. «I am sure that Italians really liked sex and porn», she states. Her performances in nightclubs were memorable events: «I did thousands and thousands of shows in nightclubs. And naked, and my performances were very beautiful because I had scenography with special effects. I sang my songs because I recorded 50 songs». Cicciolina had a career as a nightclub diva and live performer, during which she exhibited herself in a provocative and sensual manner, earning a crowd of fans who appreciated not only her body but also her spirit of rebellion. Her impact on Italian culture was enormous: «In nightclubs, I always found so many, many, many people who came to see me. From 5,000 to 7,000, 10,000 people. I remember that in Milan there were 25,000 people during six days of shows. It was delightful, beautiful». Cicciolina did not limit herself to the world of entertainment but also brought her transgression into politics. Her electoral campaign in 1987 was as bold as it was memorable: «I went around in a red convertible jeep with my songs at full volume and my breasts in the wind. I wore a white dress and had a flower crown on my blonde hair». An iconic image, which she describes as «straight out of a Botticelli painting». During rallies, there were indeed occasions when Cicciolina exposed her breasts, an act that led to numerous charges for "acts contrary to common decency".

Her candidacy caused a great scandal and was the subject of discussion throughout the country, not only for her past in the porn world but also for her uninhibited attitude, which strongly contrasted with Italian political conventions. Cicciolina nevertheless managed to win a seat in the Italian Parliament, garnering over 20,000 votes, an achievement that made her the symbol of unconventional politics. But the success Cicciolina had that year was actually the culmination of an influence exerted on the collective mind of Italians with each of her creative endeavors: «I was already doing politics through my shows, also talking with people», she recounts. She decided to join Marco Pannella's Radical Party, whom she remembers fondly: «He patted my head and said: “Tell me what the points of your electoral campaign are”».  Her legislative proposals were revolutionary for the time and addressed issues such as the regulation of sexuality in prisons, sex education in schools, and the abolition of the Merlin Law, the taxation of gasoline vehicles, and the ban on the sale of fur and animal testing - as well as what we would now call "emotional-affective education" and which we still debate today. «I proposed new norms on the revision of cinematographic and theatrical works, modifications to norms regarding obscene acts, publications, and shows, the establishment of love parks and hotels, and the study of sexuality in Italian schools», she adds. In 1987, Cicciolina officially entered Parliament, second in the number of votes after Marco Pannella. «During my time in Parliament, which lasted five years, I presented about 12-15 legislative proposals, keeping my promise to the voters». Even today, her interventions are remembered for their foresight – if we had listened to her, perhaps today we would live in a better Italy.

In 1991, Cicciolina married American artist Jeff Koons, one of the most renowned exponents of pop art, whose fame was already established. Their marriage was not only a private union but also a meeting of two worlds: contemporary art and the porn industry. Koons, known for his works that play with mass culture, created some of his most famous pieces inspired by his relationship with Cicciolina, including the Made in Heaven series, which features them in highly erotic and provocative images, becoming clear examples of how Koons' work reflected the dynamics of celebrity and provocation in popular culture, creating a dialogue between "high" and "low" art. Today, Ilona continues her artistic activity and, of course, maintains her role as a celebrity: «I paint my beautiful paintings, sing my wonderful songs, and do many reality shows in Italy and around the world», she explains. Her artistic production ranges from visual arts to music, through television.  Ilona attributes her success to her inexhaustible energy: «The reason for my great success? I never stop». When asked if she would do it all again, she replies without hesitation: «I would do everything exactly the same. I had a lot of fun and I still do». Cicciolina remains today an icon of transgression and freedom. «Today, sex and porn are considered normal, but still a bit taboo», she observes, reflecting on how society has changed. But, as she recalls, «nothing is provocation anymore, because there is everything and more». With a smile and her unmistakable charisma, Cicciolina leaves us with one certainty: «After all, I am an artist».