Jo Squillo

Jo Squillo
Background information
Born
Giovanna Maria Coletti

22 June 1962 (1962-06-22) (age 63)
Milan, Italy
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • television presenter
Years active1979–present

Giovanna Maria Coletti (born 22 June 1962), known professionally as Jo Squillo, is an Italian singer-songwriter and television presenter.

Life and career

Born in Milan, Coletti started doing music at the Santa Marta self-managed social center in her hometown.[1] In October 1979, she founded the all-female punk rock band Kandeggina Gang and adopted her stage name.[1][2]

In 1981, following the break-up of the band, Squillo made her solo debut with the single "Skizzo Skizzo" and the album Girl senza paura, which included the provocative and controversial "Violentami" ('Rape me').[1][2] In 1982, she released the single "Africa", dedicated to Nelson Mandela, and appeared on the cover of the German magazine Stern.[1] Starting from the 1984 single "I Love Muchacha", her style became pop-oriented.[3] In 1991, she entered the main competition at the Sanremo Music Festival with a successful duet with Sabrina Salerno, "Siamo donne".[3][2] Her planned participation in the 1992 Festival was cancelled at the last moment when her song was deemed ineligible, as it had already been performed in concert.[3] She subsequently took part in the 1993 edition of the Festival with "Balla italiano", which did not reach the final.[3]

From the 2000s onward, Squillo has focused primarily on television, specializing in lifestyle and fashion-related programming.[3][2] She is the founder of the non-profit organization Wall Of Dolls.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ruggeri, Roberto (1990). "Squillo, Jo". Castaldo, Gino (edited by). Dizionario della canzone italiana. Curcio Editore. p.1614.
  2. ^ a b c d e Attanasio, Debora (29 November 2025). "La suggestiva e strepitosa storia sociopolitica delle minigonne di Jo Squillo". Marie Claire (in Italian). Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e Eddy Anselmi (2009). "Squillo, Jo". Festival di Sanremo: almanacco illustrato della canzone italiana. Panini. p. 909. ISBN 8863462291.
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