On May 8, 2008, the Prime Minister of italy, Silvio Berlusconi assigned Maria Carfagna to the post of Minister of Equal Opportunity. As you can see from the photos, most of which are of her life before her entrance into politics, she is something less than the typical 'government official'...to say the least!

In fact, Maria Carfagna has been, very correctly labelled, "the most beautful minister in the world."

But Carfagna isn't just a pretty face. She has a law degree, which she received before she entered the world of modeling, showing perhaps, that there is a real brain behind that lovely face.

Born in 1975 in Salerno to a middle class family, her mother taught school and her father was a Head Master, with her brother practising plastic surgery, Maria was surrounded by, shall we say, 'good examples' ?

She failed to win Miss Italy in 1997, but found the experience very rewarding and real maturity test. She says "it makes you understand who you are..." to undergoe such a contest for such a coveted title.

The year 2007 found Carfagna embroiled in an international situation, when her boss, (the present Prime Minister of Italy) said, at an awards evening, "If I was not already married I would have married her (Maria Carfagna) immediately." Naturally, Busoni's wife was 'less-than-pleased' when she heard this remark.

Maria Bella is her nickname (the Beautiful Maria) abd sge has done semi-nude posing for such renowned mags as Maxim.

Carfagna has recently been in the news for her statements about gay rights, in particular being opposed to marriages that are not for the purpose of reproduction. She has caused considerable attention by her stand on such issues in the international arena as well as the Italian press.

Salerno's first female office holder of ministerial status, Maria Carfagna is sure to be making news for some time to come.