Alessandra Mussolini, who is the granddaughter of Italy’s fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and has long been a controversial figure in both politics and showbiz, is set to become a contestant on the Italian version of “Celebrity Big Brother.”
Alessandra is the daughter of Romano Mussolini, the fourth son of Benito Mussolini, and Maria Scicolone, who is Sophia Loren’s sister, making her Loren’s niece. She is bound to be one of the most talked about contestants on “Grande Fratello VIP,” as the Endemol Shine reality show is called in Italy. Its upcoming eighth edition will premiere on March 17 on Mediaset‘s flagship Canale 5 station.
Mussolini’s granddaughter has long moved between the worlds of Italian entertainment and politics. First she tried to emulate Loren’s career by appearing in a dozen Italian movies between 1972 and 1990, including a small role alongside Loren in Ettore Scola’s “A Special Day,” which is set during Hitler’s 1938 visit to Italy. She even released a pop music album in Japan, titled “Amore,” in 1982.
Following in her grandfather’s footsteps, Alessandra Mussolini then entered Italian politics in the early 1990s as a member of Italy’s neo-fascist Italian Social Movement, becoming a prominent right-wing politician. She served several terms as a member of Italy’s upper and lower houses of parliament and, subsequently, as a member of the European Parliament. During this time, Alessandra became a regular on the country’s TV talk show circuit and was a contestant on Italy’s “Dancing With the Stars,” which airs on state broadcaster RAI.
Her upcoming appearance on “Grande Fratello VIP” marks the first time a prominent Italian politician participates in a reality show as well as a new chapter in her long-standing rapport with showbiz.
“Hold on tight,” Mussolini told fans on social media. “I’m entering the ‘Big Brother’ house as a contestant. We have to dance, we have to sing, and I want to learn from the others.”
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