Milena Živanović
Milena Živanović | |
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| Born | 17 April 1900 Kona, Scitaria, Republic of Syara |
| Died | 31 December 1995 (aged 95) Velouria, Nerveiík-Iárus-Daláyk, Gylias |
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Milena Živanović (Gylic transcription: Milena Jivanovic; 17 April 1900 – 31 December 1995) was a Gylian sex worker, brothel owner, and actress. She was one of the best-known sex workers in Alscia, and her activism related to the profession made a significant contribution to Gylian sex work.
Early life
Milena was born on 17 April 1900 in Kona, Scitaria. She emigrated with her family to Alscia at the age of 10.
Her family was poor, and her school attendance was sporadic as she worked in a local clothing factory. Her relationship with her parents was difficult. She ran away from home and moved to Etra in 1916. There, she moved into the city's art colony, and the bohemian crowd she mixed with was crucial for her subsequent career.
Career
Milena began her sex worker career at the age of 18. By the age of 20, she had established her own brothel, named the Futaglio — a humorous portmanteau of futuō, the Latin for "to fuck", and seraglio.
One of her unexpected mentors in her sex work career was Dæse Şyna, Alscia's most successful writer. The two lived in the same neighbourhood and were lifelong friends. Milena greatly admired Dæse and imitated her flamboyant public image to the best of her ability. Dæse was similarly supportive of Milena's career and sometimes helped her with money.
A random encounter with White Star Line heiress Liona Davion led to a year-long correspondence, and the two came up with the idea of the Crociera delle Stelle, whose inaugural voyage in 1922 overnight brought Milena great renown in Alscia.
Milena became popular for her cordial, sincere attitude and flashy public image. She enjoyed flaunting her success and respectability, dressing flamboyantly and making grand appearances at nightclubs to gain publicity. Margherita Martini described her as "incapable of taking a photo without a hand playfully perched on her cheek and a sly smile". She provided good benefits to her employees, including health insurance, reduced work hours, and personally looking after their hygiene and personal appearance.
At her career peak, she was Alscia's most famous brothel owner, and she parlayed that fame into being a high-profile activist for sex workers' rights. She was a member of the Gender and Sexuality Rights Association of Alscia and Anarchofuturist Association of Alscia, and found work as an actress, usually playing characters obviously based on herself.
She met a few times with Governor Donatella Rossetti and opposition leader Beatrice Albini, occasions that prompted significant media attention and confirmed her rise to Alscia's high society. She otherwise remained aloof from politics, never expressing political sentiments or endorsing any parties for election.
As arguably Alscia's most famous Syaran, Milena tried to use her stature to promote Syaran culture and encourage good relations with Syara. She was unsuccessful, as her fame couldn't overcome the weight of strong anti-monotheist sentiment and greater public sympathy for Ruvelkans, Syara's traditional enemy.
Later life
Milena continued to run her brothel in the Free Territories, spending the money she'd earned in Alscia to support her employees. She attended volunteer classes to further her adult education.
She wrote her autobiography during the Liberation War. Published in 1958, it became a bestseller, allowing her to retire from sex work. The Futaglio survived and was designated a city landmark by the Etra city council.
Milena lived the rest of her life in comparative obscurity. She was made an honourary member of the Union of Sex Workers, in recognition of her career and activism.
Death
Milena died on 31 December 1995, aged 95, of natural causes in her Velouria apartment.