Seven out German women you need to know

By Chantal on Monday, June 7, 2010 - 23:34

Hella von Sinnen

Hella Kemper (a.k.a. Hella von Sinnen) is not only a funny lady; she has a funny way with words as well. Her stage name “Von Sinnen” is a pun on the German expression for ‘mad’. She is a fighter for same-sex marriage in Germany with her domestic partner Cornelia Scheel (stepdaughter of former German President Walter Scheel). Hella has won several awards, including Best Comedian at the German Comedy Awards in 2006 and was the 2007 Spectacle Wearer of the Year.

Dunja Hayali

 Dunja Hayali (L) with her girlfriend Maraike

In less than a year’s time, two high-profile German TV journalists came out in 2008. Anne Will was one of them and the other one was Dunja Hayali – and no, they did not come out together. Dunja is quite happy with her current girlfriend Maraike Arning (singer of punk-pop band Uschi’s Orchester).

Hayali was a student at Deutschen Sporthochschule (German Sport University) from 1995 to 1999 and majored in media and communication sciences. During this time she completed internships at various German radio and television stations. Since October 2007 she is the host of ZDF-Morningmagazin.

Bettina Böttinger

Though a lot of people may ‘only’ know her from her television work (read Maxime’s portrait here), the reason I mostly know about Bettina Böttinger is through her philanthropy.

She works with organizations such as Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe (educating, informing and bringing general awareness about AIDS), and women’s rights organization Medica Mondiale.