Sex worker ‘sl*t-shamed’ by stranger has the last laugh

A woman who earns more than $45,000 a month in an X-rated job has flipped the tables on those who are judgmental about her adult work.

A porn star who was “sl*t-shamed” in a bar by a stranger for her X-rated profession has had the last laugh after the incident sparked an impressive idea.

MelRose Michaels, based in Nashville, Tennessee, has been in the adult industry for more than a decade after starting as a cam girl in 2011.

But despite forging a hugely successful career earning at least $US30,000 ($AU46,000) a month, the now 30-year-old said she’s copped a barrage of abuse for selling naked images and videos online.

After a run-in with a cruel stranger on a night out, she’s since turned those discriminatory encounters into a positive and created a business to help normalise the adult industry.

“I was actually out on a night out with a couple of friends and someone who had identified me as a sex worker who had seen me online or Googled me, or what have you, actually approached me at a bar and tried to sl*t-shame me,” MelRose told SEEN TV.

MelRose Michaels began working as a sex worker in 2011. Picture: Instagram

“They said something along the lines of ‘it must be so embarrassing knowing everyone in here has seen you naked’ and my instant reply – because I’ve been in these situations a time or two – is ‘it’s not my fault that your boyfriend buys my nudes’.

“And they were really taken aback by that. And that’s when a light bulb went off in my head, like if I could just wear a shirt that said that I wouldn’t have to have these conversations in public spaces. I could take back my identity.”

After the shocking incident in 2018, she created NetWorthy Clothing Line, which is a series of conservative wardrobe items including hoodies and T-shirts.

After starting out as a cam girl, she moved into social media and creating content for subscription sites. Picture: Instagram/MelRose

Now she rakes in over $45,00-a-month. Picture: Instagram/MelRose

Each garment has a catchy slogan emblazoned across it, such as “there’s a reason I look familiar”, “your boyfriend buys my nudes” and “stigma looks good on you”.

MelRose, who described wearing her clothing as making her feel “powerful and sexy”, who has been discriminated against for being in the adult business.

She said she has witnessed dozens of her friends in the industry have their bank accounts or PayPal shut down because of their line of work.

She’s also had major modelling work pulled because she’s a sex worker.

“I think it’s a shame that people still have this conflict with morality and sexuality when it’s something that’s so human,” she said.

“It’s within us as a culture, as a species, as everything. It’s what makes the world turn. Sex is used to sell everything in anything in the world.

“But when you use your own sexuality to sell or profit from yourself, then suddenly it’s off limits or against the rules. That’s so mind blowing to me.”

MelRose, who has multiple income streams thanks to digital sex work, is trying to bust misconceptions those in her industry are innately “immoral and ungodly” – adding a lot of her friends in the industry have Masters or PhDs.

“I think the misconception is that we’re less than we’re not worthy, which is really what the clothing line is kind of meant to reverse,” she said, adding the real impact was spreading that sex workers “are your neighbours, friends, sisters and cousins who pay taxes”.

Over the years she’s copped abuse at the hands of strangers for her adult job. Picture: Instagram

Now she wants to fight the stigma surrounding the adult industry. Picture: Instagram

She started her own fashion business after being ‘sl*t-shmaed’ in a bar. Picture: Instagram

Beyond the fashion line, MelRose’s commitment to her community led her to create an educational platform empowering sex workers with essential skills such as how to create an online payment system and build a website.

But she’s very passionate about her fashion line, as she hopes the pieces will help challenge societal norms and foster open conversations.

“I want them to wear them in public spaces so that we can further these conversations and kind of drive awareness and reduce stigma,” she states.

“I just want customers, who are mostly sex workers, to feel empowered wearing my designs.”

Originally published as Sex worker ‘sl*t-shamed’ by stranger has the last laugh