'Pretty' dental hygienist named as Berlusconi party's regional councillor

London, Mar 31 (ANI): Former TV showgirl Nicole Minetti, the oral hygienist who put the smile back on Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi's face after he was assaulted in Milan last year, has been picked as a regional councillor for his party.

The 25-year-old was named as one of eight candidates on a "closed list" last month for the Lombardy region - despite having no political experience, reports The Daily Express.

It was presented by Berlusconi's People of Freedom Party.

Minetti's region includes Milan, the city where Berlusconi was hit in the mouth in December by a statue thrown at him during a political rally.

She had remained silent in the run-up to the polls, only speaking out when pictures of her wearing a gold bikini emerged in newspapers in Italy.

She said: "I do wish people would stop printing pictures of me when I was on TV. I was just doing some extra work to pay my way through university. I am ready. I have done my homework and I feel that I am qualified and up to the job."

Minetti added: "I signed up to the People of Freedom Party about a year ago. I began to have a sympathy for them because I was attracted by Berlusconi's charisma. I do admire him." (ANI)