The evolution of Anna Paulina Luna, Republican candidate for Congress

Much about Luna is new, including her last name and her residence in St. Petersburg. It coincides with her decision to challenge Rep. Charlie Crist.

In one of her commercials, congressional candidate Anna Paulina Luna walks along a tarmac, looking straight into the camera.

“Unlike the crooks in Congress," she says, "I’m not going to lie to your face and tell you what you want to hear.”

The straight talk is Luna’s campaign style, in person and on social media. She pokes at liberals on Twitter, elevating conservative causes and championing President Donald Trump to more than 200,000 followers. Her outsider status, with no family or career connections to Washington, propelled her through a competitive primary election to challenge Democratic incumbent Rep. Charlie Crist in Florida’s 13th Congressional District.

The campaign draws heavily on her Hispanic heritage, Southern California roots, an impoverished and unstable childhood, and her service in the U.S. Air Force. But much about Luna, 31, is new, including her last name and her residence in St. Petersburg.

The journey from Anna Paulina Mayerhofer to Anna Paulina Luna, from “avid supporter" of President Barack Obama to swimsuit model to conservative firebrand, has been rapid. The evolution coincides with her decision to challenge Crist in the district that covers southern Pinellas County.

In a 2017 interview with Canadian lifestyle and culture magazine Skyn, Luna — who at the time went by her married name, Gamberzky — described her biggest revelation in appearing before the camera:

“I’m able to take on different personalities depending on what image I am going for. I think getting into character of what you are selling is super important.”

https://www.tampabay.com/news/pinellas/2020/10/11/the-evolution-of-anna-paulina-luna-republican-candidate-for-congress/

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