Age, XXX, and the Future of Representation

I Have Questions

Part 2 of my exploration of ageing in adult entertainment and how the landscape has evolved.

Aesthetics

For female adult entertainers around my age, success seems to be based on two different aesthetics:

1. Extremely fit with breast implants and a specific facial look, also known as the Instagram Face. This look is the primary look in mainstream studio content.

2. Curvy body more in line with the American average, but with enormous breasts. This look is found among independent creators rather than the mainstream.

In both cases, long hair styles prevail, and if they have grey hair, they colour it. For at least the last five years, hair extensions, long manicured nails, and false eyelashes have also been trending.

Judgement

I don’t judge the models and performers who choose to undergo cosmetic procedures and surgery. I value bodily autonomy. What others do regarding their bodies is none of my business, and what I do with mine is no one else’s.

Like Cher said, “If I wanna put my tits on my back, it's nobody's business but my own”.

Additionally, I don’t judge those who highlight their natural qualities. Given social media's profit-driven nature and fleeting attention spans (where people decide to scroll within 3 seconds of seeing something), salient imagery is crucial for creators.

Big, jiggly breasts are highly salient.

However, these two aesthetics don’t reflect my body or style. This empowers me to document myself as I am today with my bloated belly (thank you, total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy because of endometrial cancer), grey hair, non-injected face, and small natural breasts. I’m determined to offer representation for those who don’t see themselves in the two popular aesthetics.

Variety

I see much more body and style diversity among younger performers today than existed in the late '90s and early 2000s. There are more body shapes, sizes, styles, and approaches to beauty and sexuality being shared and celebrated now than in my early years in XXX.

I hope this expansion of what's considered beautiful and sexy will extend to my generation of performers as Millennials and Gen Z age into midlife and beyond.

I was advocating for this kind of representation when I was 27, and it feels even more important now that I'm 54. There's room for all of us to explore and express our sexuality, regardless of age or how closely we fit conventional beauty standards.

This conversation feels more relevant than ever, and I'm grateful to be part of it. But I'm also aware that I'm still figuring it out as I go, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on where we're headed.

In my next post, I’ll explore ageing and male performers in the adult industry.