Vivienne Westwood has once again looked beyond the traditional fashion world for its latest campaign, casting adult entertainment legend and former Italian politician Cicciolina as the face of its Fall/Winter 2026-27 collection.
Photographed by Juergen Teller, the campaign places the 74-year-old—born Ilona Staller—among gilded antiques, Art Deco furniture and Rococo-inspired interiors inside the Belloni showroom in Barlassina, Italy. Wearing black lace gloves, floral crowns and plunging knitwear from the new collection, Cicciolina remains instantly recognisable more than four decades after she first became one of Europe’s biggest adult film stars.
For creative director Andreas Kronthaler, the casting was about more than nostalgia. Living in Italy has heavily influenced the collection, and he saw Cicciolina as the perfect figure to embody that connection.
“The result fills us with joy and pride, and we’re delighted you can’t tell it was shot in 41-degree heat,” Kronthaler said. “Casting was central to communicating that message, so we wanted Cicciolina to be part of it. I met her for the first time on set and thought she was a wonderful woman, an icon who brings everyone together.”
Staller’s career has never followed a conventional path. After moving from Budapest to Italy, she first found fame as a radio presenter before becoming one of the defining names of the adult film industry during the 1980s. In 1987, she made headlines around the world after winning a seat in the Italian Parliament as a member of the Radical Party, becoming one of the very few adult performers ever elected to public office.
Her platinum hair, flower crowns, corsets and unapologetically theatrical image made her a fixture far beyond the adult world. That aesthetic would go on to influence generations of designers, while her marriage to American artist Jeff Koons produced both a son and one of contemporary art’s most controversial collaborations. Today, she remains a familiar face at Milan Fashion Week, where her cult status shows no sign of fading.
Westwood has never shied away from provocative casting. In 2016, the British label featured gay adult performer Colby Keller in a campaign that generated headlines, continuing the brand’s long-standing tradition of challenging convention. Other luxury houses have followed a similar path in recent years, with Rocco Siffredi walking for Dsquared2 and former adult star Mia Khalifa making a runway appearance during Paris Fashion Week.
Fashion’s relationship with adult entertainment has become increasingly visible, reflecting a broader shift in celebrity culture. As the lines between adult performers, influencers, OnlyFans creators and fashion personalities continue to blur, figures once considered outsiders are finding themselves at the centre of luxury campaigns. Cicciolina’s latest appearance for Vivienne Westwood feels less like a surprise than another chapter in a career built on refusing to stay in one lane.
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Last modified: July 21, 2026
