Gina Lollobrigida, born on July 4, 1927, in the picturesque mountain village of Subiaco, Italy, was destined to be called "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World". As the daughter of a furniture manufacturer, she grew up with a strong sense of aesthetics, which would later influence her career as a model, actress, and photographer.
Gina's early life was marked by her participation in beauty contests, where she won several awards, including a third-place finish in the 1947 Miss Italy competition. Although she didn't win the title, she caught the attention of film tycoon Howard Hughes, who allegedly had her flown to Hollywood in 1947. However, this didn't lead to a long-term stay in America, and she returned to Italy, where she continued to work in the film industry.
In 1949, Gina married Slovenian doctor Milko Skofic, with whom she had a son, Milko Skofic Jr. The couple remained married for 22 years, until their divorce in 1971. During this period, Gina's film career took off, with her starring in a string of successful movies, including Beautiful But Dangerous (1955),which earned her the nickname "La Lollo".
Gina's unique look, with her earthy features and signature "tossed salad" hairdo, became iconic, and she was soon dubbed "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World". Her film Come September (1961),co-starring Rock Hudson, won the Golden Globe Award as the World's Film Favorite. In the 1970s, Gina took a break from acting to pursue her passion for photography, capturing the likenesses of famous subjects like Paul Newman, Salvador Dalí, and the German national soccer team.
In 1973, Gina published a collection of her photographs, "Italia Mia", which showcased her skills behind the lens. She continued to work in film and television, appearing in a few projects in the 1980s and 1990s, before retiring from acting in 1997 after a 50-year career in the motion picture industry.
Gina's post-acting career was marked by her involvement in politics, running for a seat in the European Parliament in 1999. Although she was unsuccessful, she continued to work as a corporate executive for fashion and cosmetics companies. In a 2000 interview with Parade magazine, Gina revealed that she had always been drawn to the arts, studying painting and sculpting at school, and that she became an actress by mistake. She also confessed to having many lovers and still having romances, and that she was "very spoiled" due to her many admirers.
