#2: She Survives War and Poverty in Pozzuoli During World War II
During the early 1940s, she grew up in Pozzuoli as World War II devastated southern Italy. Allied bombings targeted the nearby port of Naples, and air raid sirens became part of daily life. Food shortages and unstable housing defined her childhood environment.
Her family often sheltered in train tunnels during bombardments. Malnutrition left her thin and physically fragile, earning her the childhood nickname “Stecchino,” meaning little stick. The war years hardened her early, shaping resilience long before fame entered her life.