A bikini model turned politician who is accused of fraud and money laundering is now earning tens of thousands after using the media attention around her upcoming trial to become an adult content creator.
The case centres on Camila Polizzi, a former swim suit model turned mayoral candidate accused of fraud and money laundering in the town of Concepcion, Chile, where a court has scheduled a key pre-trial hearing for 16th April this year.
Polizzi has been formally charged with fraud against the state, swindling and money laundering after she allegedly made irregular transfers of public funds to buy, among other things, underwear, instead of paying it from government agencies to private non-profit foundations.
Camila Polizzi poses in undated photo. She was accused of irregular transfer of public funds in Concepcion, Chile. Note: Private photo. (@camilapolizzioficial/Newsflash)
Prosecutors allege that more than CLP 250 million (GBP 212,000) was transferred to Fundacion En Ti for community training programmes, and that part of the money was diverted to personal expenses, including designer clothing, restaurants and lingerie.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service (SII) and the State Defense Council (CDE) have filed charges seeking a sentence of up to 28 years in prison if she is convicted.
After more than two years of investigation, the Guarantee Court of Concepcion set 16th April as the date for the hearing to prepare her oral trial, where she will stand accused.
Polizzi has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. She has said that CLP 198 million (GBP 168,000) was executed and properly accounted for, and that of the remaining CLP 50 million (GBP 42,500), nearly CLP 40 million (GBP 34,000) was frozen by prosecutors while CLP 27 million (GBP 23,500) was recovered through a guarantee payment.
Camila Polizzi poses in undated photo. She was accused of irregular transfer of public funds in Concepcion, Chile. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash)
The case, nicknamed 'Lenceria' ('Lingerie'), earned its name after a bank statement from an external contractor linked to the project showed a purchase of around CLP 35,000 (GBP 30) at a store called Intime.
Polizzi has said she had no access to the company’s accounts and does not know what was bought.
While under total house arrest during the investigation, Polizzi launched accounts on adult content platforms including Arsmate, OnlyFans and later Vodscene, becoming one of Chile’s most talked-about online figures.
She said that in her first 10 months on one platform she earned between CLP 15 million (GBP 12,700) and CLP 20 million (GBP 17,000) per month, describing the initial surge in subscribers as “a madness”.
According to her, more than CLP 20 million (GBP 17,000) of her income was later withheld at the request of the State Defense Council.
Polizzi has said she creates content alone and does not collaborate with others, stating that while her material includes full nudity, it does not feature explicit sex.
Camila Polizzi poses in undated photo. She was accused of irregular transfer of public funds in Concepcion, Chile. Note: Private photo. (Camila Polizzi/Newsflash)
In an interview, she said: “They created a monster they weren’t expecting,” arguing that the focus on the alleged lingerie purchase and images from her past as a bikini model fuelled intense media coverage.
She has identified herself as centre-left politically and said she is preparing new projects, including a proposed exhibition in Santiago in September featuring paintings inspired by characters she portrays on adult platforms, as well as a book about her experience in the industry.
As her court date approaches, Polizzi has said she feels ready for trial and intends to continue working while the judicial process continues.
(Aloysius Fernandes /Newsflash)