Pamela Genini: Swiss Politician & National Council Member

Italian model and entrepreneur Pamela Genini captivated audiences both through her fashion work and her vibrant social media presence — until her life was tragically cut short on her 29th birthday in October 2025. Now, just months later, her story has returned to global headlines for an even more disturbing reason: the desecration of her grave in late March 2026. Here is everything you need to know about who Pamela Genini was, the circumstances surrounding her murder, and the shocking new developments that have left investigators searching for answers.

Who Was Pamela Genini?

Born on October 14, 1996, in the small village of Strozza in the Imagna Valley of Bergamo, Italy, Pamela Genini grew up with an international flair rooted in her family history. Her mother, Una Smirnova, carried Russian heritage — reportedly descending from a Russian emigrant — lending Pamela a distinctive look that helped launch her modeling career at just 16 years old.

At 18, she made the bold move to Milan, Italy's fashion capital, to pursue professional modeling in earnest. Within a year, she had landed a television appearance on Deejay TV's reality show L'Isola di Adamo ed Eva (Adam & Eve Island), which brought her to the attention of a much wider Italian audience. Her career in high-fashion modeling and advertising campaigns followed naturally from there.

But Pamela was more than a model. She co-founded EP SheLux, a Made-in-Italy luxury swimwear brand, alongside her friend Elisa Bartolotti. She also operated a luxury real estate consulting business in Milan. Her Instagram account (@geninipamela) documented her glamorous lifestyle and quickly built a loyal following. By her late twenties, Pamela Genini was an entrepreneur, a creative, and a role model for young Italian women with ambitions beyond the runway.

Her personal life had not been without hardship, however. In 2017, her father Sergio suffered a devastating accident that left him in a vegetative state — a trauma that shaped the family profoundly in the years that followed.

The Night of October 14, 2025: A Birthday Turned Tragedy

The evening of October 14, 2025 — Pamela's 29th birthday — ended in horrific violence. According to investigators and Yahoo News, her ex-partner Gianluca Soncin, a 52-year-old businessman from Biella, entered her apartment on Via Iglesias in Milan's Gorla neighborhood using a copy of her keys he had secretly made without her knowledge or consent.

Before the attack, Pamela had texted a friend at 9:46 PM: "I'm scared. This guy's completely crazy... I don't know what to do." Minutes later, she was stabbed more than 24 times on the terrace of her own apartment. Neighbors heard her screams and called emergency services. Soncin was arrested at the scene.

As TMZ and multiple Italian outlets reported, Soncin now faces charges of homicide aggravated by premeditation, stalking, cruelty, and frivolous motives. Under Italian law, the killing was classified as femicide. He is currently in prison awaiting trial.

Italy's Femicide Crisis: A National Reckoning

Pamela Genini's murder did not happen in a vacuum. Italy has been grappling with a deeply troubling pattern of violence against women for years. In November 2025, CNN published an in-depth investigation citing her case among others, putting pressure on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government to take stronger legislative and cultural action.

Activists, politicians, and ordinary Italians took to the streets and social media in the weeks following her death. Pamela's case resonated because it illustrated a familiar and devastating pattern: a woman who had reportedly already been experiencing stalking behavior, who feared for her safety, and whose warning signs were not acted upon swiftly enough to save her life.

• Italy records dozens of femicides annually, with intimate partner violence being the leading cause
• Stalking charges were among the aggravating factors in Soncin's arrest
• Her final text message became a rallying symbol for advocacy groups pushing for faster police response to stalking complaints

Grave Desecration: The Shocking March 2026 Discovery

Just when her story seemed to be settling into the long, slow rhythm of the Italian justice system, Pamela Genini's name returned to international headlines in the most disturbing way possible. In late March 2026 — approximately five months after her murder — cemetery workers at the Strozza cemetery in Bergamo made a horrifying discovery while transferring her coffin from a burial niche to the family chapel.

According to ANSA, Italy's national news agency, Pamela's head had been severed and removed from her body. The rest of her remains were undisturbed. Forensic investigators analyzed the coffin's silicone seal and determined that the act had been carried out recently, well after her burial.

Police believe three to four suspects were involved in the desecration, working under the cover of darkness over what must have been a significant period of time to avoid detection. The Bergamo public prosecutor's office is leading the investigation. As of March 30, 2026, no arrests have been made.

Charges under consideration include corpse desecration and theft, which carry a maximum sentence of up to 7 years in prison under Italian law. The motive — whether connected to her murder case, an occult ritual, a macabre trophy, or something else entirely — remains unknown.

"The discovery is utterly shocking and deeply painful for the family," an Italian prosecutor's office spokesperson said. The Genini family, already devastated by her violent death, is now forced to endure yet another violation of their loved one's memory.

Legacy: Remembering Pamela Genini

Beyond the headlines, Pamela Genini was a daughter, sister, friend, and creative entrepreneur who built something real from ambition and hard work. She left behind a brother, Nicola, and a sister, Veronica, along with her mother Una and a community that cherished her in Strozza and Milan alike.

Her luxury swimwear brand EP SheLux represented her belief in Made-in-Italy craftsmanship and female entrepreneurship. Her real estate business showed her sharp business instincts. And her social media presence — raw, stylish, and personal — gave thousands of followers a window into the life of a modern Italian woman navigating fashion, family, and ambition all at once.

If you are interested in supporting Italian fashion and female-led brands in her memory, consider exploring Italian luxury swimwear brands or gifting Made in Italy fashion accessories that reflect the craftsmanship she championed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pamela Genini

Who was Pamela Genini?

Pamela Genini was a 29-year-old Italian model and entrepreneur from Strozza, Bergamo. She was known for her fashion modeling career in Milan, her appearance on Italian reality TV, and her co-founded luxury swimwear brand EP SheLux.

How did Pamela Genini die?

Pamela Genini was murdered on October 14, 2025 — her 29th birthday — by her ex-partner Gianluca Soncin, who stabbed her more than 24 times on the balcony of her Milan apartment. Soncin was arrested at the scene and is awaiting trial on charges including premeditated homicide and stalking.

What happened to Pamela Genini's grave?

In late March 2026, approximately five months after her murder, cemetery workers in Strozza discovered that her grave had been desecrated. Her head had been severed and removed from her body. Italian investigators believe three to four suspects were involved. As of March 30, 2026, no arrests have been made.

What is femicide and why is Pamela Genini's case significant?

Femicide refers to the killing of women and girls, typically by an intimate partner or family member, motivated by gender. Pamela's case became a symbol of Italy's ongoing femicide crisis, as she had reportedly been stalked and had expressed fear for her safety in a final text message just minutes before she was killed.

Where was Pamela Genini buried?

Pamela Genini was buried at the Strozza cemetery in Bergamo, Italy — the village where she was born and raised. Her coffin was in the process of being moved to the family chapel when the desecration was discovered in March 2026.

Conclusion

Pamela Genini's story is one of talent, ambition, tragedy, and ongoing injustice. A young woman who built a meaningful career in fashion and business, her life was stolen from her in an act of brutal intimate partner violence on her own birthday. Italy mourned, rallied, and debated — and just as the nation began to move forward, a new and deeply disturbing chapter opened with the desecration of her grave in March 2026.

Both investigations — the murder trial of Gianluca Soncin and the search for those responsible for the cemetery violation — are ongoing. For a family that has already endured unimaginable suffering, the road ahead remains painful. Pamela Genini deserves to be remembered not only for how she died, but for the life she lived: vibrant, entrepreneurial, and full of promise.