'There’s a lot of hate in this world but through sex work – and I’m talking specifically about companionship – we create such a loving intimate space for people, free of judgment.'
I am a New York City-based dominatrix and cultural activist. I started doing BDSM professionally in 2016 after finding a dungeon on craigslist (those were the days) and then mostly did online work for a year or two while I finished college before transitioning to full-time in-person BDSM.
I kind of always knew I was going to end up in the sex industry, to be honest. I became sexually active at a very young age and, despite growing up in a small, conservative New Jersey town, never seemed to possess any internalized shame around my desires.
"I honestly think that the majority of sugar babies don't consider themselves sex workers because of the legalities or the heavy stigma behind the title of 'sex worker'."
What’s it like starting out now, when ads have shifted from the back pages of the local paper to almost exclusively online? When everyone talks about being ‘on brand’ and a social media presence is essential?