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Send us Fan Mail What does it actually take to be sexy on command? Behind the costumes, choreography and confidence of a Las Vegas showgirl are years of auditions, rejection, competition, body pressure and learning how to walk onto a stage and perform even when you don't feel your best. In this episode of Ava Devine's Bad Advice, I sit down with professional dancers Lauren Strong and Krystyna Lauren from Las Vegas' Sexxy The Show for a conversation about professional dance, burlesque, bodybuilding, body dysmorphia, confidence, rejection and what really happens behind the scenes when being sexy becomes part of your job. Long before becoming Vegas showgirls, Lauren and Krystyna were already accustomed to high-performance environments. Lauren spent years in professional dance and cheer, performing across the NFL, NBA and NLL worlds while experiencing firsthand how competitive auditions can be. She opens up about making an NFL team, being cut the following season and learning how quickly your identity can become attached to the career you've worked so hard to build. Krystyna spent years auditioning for professional dance opportunities while also building a career in competitive bodybuilding, fitness and coaching. Together, they open up about something both worlds taught them: when your body becomes part of your profession, it can become very difficult to stop evaluating it. Krystyna discusses struggling with body dysmorphia, analyzing her body even when she didn't need to and eventually stepping away from bodybuilding competition to figure out whether she still wanted that life. Lauren reveals that she experienced body pressure from both sides. While bodybuilding rewarded one physique, professional cheer told her her upper body had become too muscular and needed to look more feminine. Eventually, both women found themselves entering a very different world: burlesque. And something unexpected happened. Performing in Sexxy The Show didn't make them more critical of their bodies. It began helping them become more accepting of themselves. We also talk about rejection, perfectionism, burnout, aging as a professional performer, female friendship, competition and why learning to separate your identity from your achievements may be one of the hardest lessons for a high performer to learn. Follow Ava Devine Instagram: @theoneandonlyavadevine TikTok: @1avadevine Follow Ava Devine's Bad Advice Podcast Instagram: @avadevinesbadadvice TikTok: @avadevinesbadadvice X: @avadevinespod Follow Lauren Strong IG: @laurenbstrong Follow Krystyna Lauren IG: @krystyna.lauren Follow Sexxy: The Show IG: @sexxyshowlv

Send us Fan Mail Pole dancing has spent decades being dismissed because of its connection to strip clubs and erotica. But what happens when women stop seeing sensuality as something they perform for somebody else, and start discovering it for themselves? In this episode of Ava Devine's Bad Advice, I sit down with international pole dancer, instructor, and Team Basework founder Claudia Renee to talk about pole dancing, confidence, sensuality, strength, body image, sexual independence, and what really happens when women discover what their bodies are capable of. What started as a birthday gift eventually became a career that has taken Claudia around the world, teaching thousands of women from different backgrounds and ultimately building Team Basework, her virtual pole dancing community with instructors from around the world. But Claudia's approach to pole goes far beyond learning tricks. She explains why pole dancing can transform the way women see themselves, how physical strength can translate into emotional confidence and how she has watched women begin asking for what they want after discovering a different side of themselves through movement. We also talk about something Claudia refuses to separate from the conversation: where pole dancing comes from. Pole has increasingly entered the worlds of fitness, competitive sport and mainstream entertainment, but Claudia believes respecting the art also means respecting its relationship with erotic dancers and spicy workers. She takes us behind the scenes of training Constance Wu for Hustlers, the controversy she witnessed surrounding the production and why she believes pole dancers, midnight ballerinas, and spicy workers should be supporting each other rather than fighting over who is allowed to participate in the art form. Follow Ava Devine Instagram: @theoneandonlyavadevine TikTok: @1avadevine Follow Ava Devine's Bad Advice Podcast Instagram: @avadevinesbadadvice TikTok: @avadevinesbadadvice X: @avadevinespod Follow Claudia Renée IG: @itsclaudiarenee Follow Team Basework IG: @teambasework Follow Basecamp IG: @base_by_teambasework

Send us Fan Mail For most of her life, Mia Isabella refused to let other people decide who she was allowed to be. Long before becoming one of the most recognizable transgender performers in adult entertainment, Mia was an artist, fashion designer, student, caregiver and young woman trying to build a life entirely on her own terms. Then fame came. In this episode of Ava Devine's Bad Advice, I sit down with Mia Isabella for an intimate conversation about her childhood, transgender identity, race, family, fashion, adult entertainment, relationships, fame, the Tyga controversy, depression and what it actually means to live freely. Mia takes us back to growing up in East Tennessee, where she says she understood herself as feminine from the age of five despite having no concept of what being transgender meant. Raised by powerful women who encouraged her to tell the truth about who she was, Mia says she never learned to view being different as something that should limit her. But her childhood was also complicated by race, family conflict, and eventually discovering prejudices within the people she loved most. As a biracial child growing up between different sides of her family, Mia opens up about confronting racism and colorism, becoming estranged from her grandmother for nearly a decade and eventually learning that loving someone doesn't mean accepting everything they believe. She explains how she helped create an image of transgender women that went beyond reducing them to their bodies: full glamour, fashion, femininity and fantasy. But behind the public persona was a much more complicated private life. Mia opens up about relationships with powerful and wealthy men, getting married extremely young, living what appeared to be an extraordinarily privileged life and eventually realizing that money, houses, jewelry and security could still become a cage. She describes the moment she finally chose freedom over that life, leaving almost everything behind, driving to Las Vegas and rebuilding herself as Mia Isabella. Then we talk about the controversy that changed everything. Mia addresses the Tyga scandal, what she says actually happened when the story exploded online, the impersonation accounts she says helped ignite the controversy and why she believes the public narrative reduced an entire career to one sensational story. She also explains why she has never wanted to publicly discuss the intimate details of her relationships with famous men. For Mia, those relationships were between human beings, not headlines. But the consequences of public scrutiny were very real. She explains how the scandal damaged the career she had spent years building, affected her relationships and professional opportunities, contributed to a deep depression, and ultimately led her to retreat from interviews and public attention for nearly a decade. Now, she is telling her story from a very different place.

Send us Fan Mail Society has an unwritten rule for women: youth is beauty, beauty is value, and eventually you're supposed to become quieter, less desirable and less visible. Victoria Vale completely rejected that narrative. In this episode of Ava Devine's Bad Advice, I sit down with adult performer and model Victoria Vale for an honest conversation about starting over later in life, aging, confidence, beauty standards, plastic surgery, sexuality, career reinvention and why women do not have an expiration date. Long before becoming Victoria Vale, she lived two very different lives. She began dancing while putting herself through college before eventually leaving the entertainment world, completing graduate school and building a successful corporate career in HR. For roughly two decades, she lived what she describes as a normal suburban corporate life. But part of her never forgot the freedom and excitement she had experienced before. Years later, Victoria decided to explore that part of herself again. What initially began as a bucket-list opportunity to model eventually became something much bigger: a complete reinvention of her life in adulthood. Victoria opens up about returning to an appearance-driven industry at an older age, becoming comfortable in front of the camera, entering adult films later in life and discovering that getting older didn't make her less confident. Chapters 00:00 Women Do NOT Have An Expiration Date 00:01:05 Starting Over Later In Life 00:01:58 Who Was Victoria Vale Before Adult Entertainment? 00:02:42 Dancing Her Way Through College 00:04:27 Why Victoria Chose Corporate Life 00:05:07 Living Two Completely Different Lives 00:05:54 Did Victoria Ever Feel Like She Truly Fit In? 00:06:40 Shame & Growing Up Without Guilt 00:07:23 Education vs. Real-World Experience 00:08:07 What Adult Entertainment Taught Victoria About Men 00:08:58 Why Victoria Believes The Industry Can Empower Women 00:09:54 Why Victoria Returned To Adult Entertainment 00:10:36 Sex Appeal In The Corporate World 00:12:13 Does Appearance Affect How People Treat You? 00:12:56 The Glamour Standards Of The Feature-Dancing Era 00:14:52 The Opportunity That Brought Victoria Back 00:15:34 Working A Corporate Job While Modeling 00:16:18 Victoria Vale's Glamorous Aesthetic 00:17:04 How Ava Helped Victoria Enter The Creator Economy 00:18:32 Why Women Should Help Other Women Succeed 00:19:24 Why Leading With Kindness Matters 00:20:08 How Victoria Got Her Big Break 00:20:49 Why She Didn't Immediately Jump Into Adult Films 00:21:31 Victoria's First Experience Filming With A Partner 00:22:26 What People Don't Understand About Filming Adult Scenes 00:23:22 Why Staying Camera-Ready Gets Harder With Age 00:24:27 The Pressure Of Seeing Your Body On Camera 00:25:21 "I Feel Better Than I Did In My 20s" 00:26:12 How Victoria Transformed Her Health 00:26:58 Why Aging Made Her More Grounded 00:27:47 The Physical Demands Of Adult Entertainment 00:28:32 Protecting Mental, Emotional & Spiritual Health 00:29:36 Finding Balance Between Work & Real Life 00:30:37 How Victoria Deals With Online Hate 00:32:01 Aging Naturally vs. Plastic Surgery 00:32:50 Why Women Should Choose How THEY Want To Age 00:33:36 Why We Freeze Women In Their Younger Image 00:34:55 Victoria Vale On Plastic Surgery & Extreme Glamour 00:35:47 Why She Refuses To Apologize For Her Look 00:36:35 "My Body, My Choice" 00:37:31 Why Plastic Surgery Makes Victoria Feel More Confident 00:38:33 The Impossible Beauty Standard Women Face 00:39:23 "I'm Stronger Than I Was 20 Years Ago" 00:40:07 Why Women Are Judged No Matter How They Age 00:41:37 Is Ageism Still A Problem In Adult Entertainment? 00:42:32 Why Victoria Loves Being A Mature Woman 00:43:25 Victoria Vale's Advice For Women Of Every Age 00:45:10 "You Couldn't Pay Me To Be In My 20s Again" 00:45:57 What Victoria Is Proudest Of 00:46:53 What Women In Their 40s, 50s & 60s Need To Hear 00:47:44 "It's Never Too Late" 00:48:43 Why Your Life Doesn't End When You Start Over 00:49:34 Finding What Brings You Joy 00:50:34 Victoria Vale's Final Bad Advice If there is one thing to take away from this episode, it's this: your life does not have an expiration date.

Send us Fan Mail People have spent Sassee Cassee's entire life noticing what makes her different. But there is far more to her story than what people see. In this episode of Ava Devine's Bad Advice, I sit down with entertainer, feature dancer and content creator Sassee Cassee for an honest conversation about confidence, dating, fetishization, self-worth and learning to live without needing validation from other people. Sassee takes us back to a childhood where her mother made the decision not to shelter her. She talks about being bullied in school, learning to defend herself, becoming a gymnast and developing the resilience that would eventually follow her into adulthood. Then an unexpected opportunity changed everything. After appearing on The Jerry Springer Show, Sassee began travelling, performing and eventually built a career as a touring feature dancer before joining Micro Maidens, an all-women burlesque show featuring little people. But behind the performer is a woman who has spent much of her life navigating the difference between being seen and being objectified. Sassee opens up about what dating is really like when you constantly have to question someone's intentions, how she separates genuine attraction from fetishization, why being attracted to a little person shouldn't be considered taboo, and the boundaries she refuses to compromise in her career. ## Chapters 00:00 Meet Sassee Cassee 00:00:33 The Mother Who Refused To Shelter Her 00:01:17 Growing Up With A Minister For A Sister 00:02:00 Family, Faith & Spicy Entertainment 00:03:14 How Spirituality Helps Sassee Handle Negativity 00:04:05 What Growing Up Different Was Really Like 00:04:45 The Bullying That Changed Her 00:05:37 How Sassee Learned To Handle Haters 00:06:22 From Gymnastics To Jerry Springer 00:07:18 Why Sassee Felt She Had To Prove Herself 00:08:02 Searching For Acceptance Through Self Love 00:08:54 Sassee Cassee On The Jerry Springer Show 00:09:38 Moving To California & Chasing A Bigger Career 00:10:15 What Dating Is Really Like For Sassee 00:11:03 How She Spots Men With The Wrong Intentions 00:11:38 What Sassee Actually Looks For In A Man 00:12:24 Attraction vs. Fetishization 00:13:06 Why Attraction To Little People Isn't Taboo 00:13:55 When Attraction Becomes Fetishization 00:14:47 Dating Younger Men & Learning What She Wants 00:15:39 Sassee Opens Up About Her Attraction To Women 00:16:33 How Sassee Built A Career As A Feature Dancer 00:17:31 Inside The Micro Maidens 00:18:14 How Sassee Joined Micro Maidens 00:18:56 Feeling Celebrated vs. Feeling Exploited 00:19:37 The Performance Sassee Refused To Do 00:20:28 What Respectful Entertainment Looks Like 00:21:09 What Happens At A Micro Maidens Show? 00:21:45 The Gymnastics Skills Behind Sassee's Performances 00:22:39 What Actually Defines A Little Person? 00:23:44 Would Sassee Date Another Little Person? 00:24:33 How Sassee Entered The Creator Economy 00:25:28 Becoming Comfortable With Her Body & Sexuality 00:26:18 "Treat Me Like A Human Being" 00:26:50 Why Sassee Lets Children Ask Questions 00:27:37 "People Don't Look At Me Like I'm A Person" 00:28:14 The Airport Interaction That Made Sassee Speak Up 00:28:50 How Her Response To Ignorance Has Changed 00:29:35 Sassee Opens Up About Body Image 00:30:27 Why She Chose To Control Her Own Content 00:31:04 Building Her Career On Her Own Terms 00:31:58 The Boundary Sassee Refuses To Cross 00:32:39 Who Is Sassee Cassee Beyond The Persona? 00:33:28 What's Next For Sassee Cassee? 00:35:13 What Sassee's Friends Know That Fans Don't 00:36:08 The Unexpected Thing That Makes Her Laugh 00:36:52 The Money Lesson Sassee Wishes She Learned Earlier 00:37:44 "I Don't Need A Man To Be Happy" 00:38:47 Where Sassee Sees Herself In Five Years 00:40:25 Sassee Opens Up About Drug Addiction & Recovery 00:41:16 Sassee Cassee's Final Bad Advice If there is one thing to take away from this episode, it's this: you are more than the assumptions people make about you. Her story isn't about proving that she's just like everybody else. It's about reaching the point where she no longer feels like she has to prove anything at all. Follow Ava Devine Instagram: @theoneandonlyavadevine TikTok: @1avadevine Follow Ava Devine's Bad Advice Podcast Instagram: @avadevinesbadadvice TikTok: @avadevinesbadadvice X: @avadevinespod Follow Sassee Cassee X: @sassee_cassee IG: @sasseecassee89 Follow Micro Maidens X: @micromaidens IG: @micromaidens

Send us Fan Mail Most people see the finished product of adult entertainment. They don't see the business decisions, long hours, rejection, boundaries, social media restrictions, relationships, mentorship, and discipline required to build a career that lasts. This week on Ava Devine's Bad Advice, I sit down with adult performer and entrepreneur Katie Kush for a conversation about what it really takes to build a career in the modern adult entertainment industry. Before becoming Katie Kush, she worked at a school supporting children with special needs and behavioural challenges. After a relationship ended and she found herself financially responsible for a home on her own, Katie began camming while continuing to work at the school. Eventually, she faced a decision: continue pursuing a career she loved or take a chance on adult entertainment. Her mother gave her one piece of advice that would shape the way she approached her career: treat it like a business. And that's exactly what Katie did. We talk about her transition from amateur content into professional films, why it took her more than a year to fully commit to the industry, what happened when her school discovered her adult work, and how veteran performers helped teach her how to navigate the business. Katie also explains the massive shift she has witnessed from the traditional studio system to today's creator economy, and why she believes performers now have more control over their careers than previous generations. This is a conversation about adult entertainment, the creator economy, consent, social media, work ethic, mentorship, confidence, burnout, and what building a sustainable career actually looks like behind the scenes. Chapters 00:00 Meet Katie Kush 00:00:51 Why Ava Wanted A Gen Z Performer On The Show 00:01:35 Katie Kush's Business Approach To Adult Entertainment 00:02:16 Who Was Katie Kush Before Adult Entertainment? 00:02:57 From Special-Needs Assistant To Camming 00:04:12 Trying To Keep Her Two Lives Separate 00:05:25 Choosing Between A Traditional Career & Adult Entertainment 00:05:59 What Happened When Katie's School Found Out 00:08:00 Katie Kush's First Adult Film Experience 00:09:27 How Veteran Performers Helped Katie Build Her Career 00:10:47 Learning From Adult Entertainment Veterans 00:11:24 Studios vs. Creator Platforms 00:12:06 How Creator Platforms Changed Adult Entertainment 00:13:46 Why Katie Still Works With Studios 00:15:03 Katie Kush Tries Exotic Dancing 00:15:47 Her First Day At A Strip Club Went Very Wrong 00:16:54 The Reality Of Rejection In Feature Dancing 00:18:11 What Katie's Feature Shows Are Really Like 00:19:31 How Competitive Dance Shaped Her Adult Career 00:20:52 How Katie Plans Creator Collaborations 00:22:08 Being A Switch & Understanding Power Dynamics 00:23:34 What Katie's Fans Request Most 00:25:44 Why Katie Loves Performing At Clubs 00:27:05 Social Media's Impact On Her Career 00:27:50 Why Adult Performers Get Flagged Online 00:29:58 The Mental Gymnastics Of Social Media Censorship 00:30:35 Losing Access To Payment Platforms 00:31:16 How Katie Deals With Hate Comments 00:32:37 Why Online Criticism Kept Katie Away From Podcasts 00:33:43 Mental Health In Adult Entertainment 00:35:10 How Katie Protects Her Sanity 00:35:47 Burnout & Learning To Say No 00:36:30 The Unexpected Hobbies That Keep Katie Grounded 00:37:11 Separating Adult Entertainment From Real Life 00:38:32 Does Katie Mentor New Performers? 00:40:02 Katie's Advice For Anyone Entering Adult Entertainment 00:40:41 Creator First vs. Traditional Studio Career 00:41:27 How To Find The Right Adult Industry Agent 00:42:53 Why New Performers May Need Representation 00:44:13 Finding Your Niche In An Oversaturated Industry 00:45:35 What Makes Katie Kush Successful? 00:46:14 Consent & Knowing When To Speak Up 00:46:48 How Katie Learned Her Personal Boundaries 00:47:23 Studio Shoots vs. Creator Content 00:48:10 Katie's Biggest Turn-On & Turn-Off 00:48:59 Katie Talks Sexuality & Relationships 00:50:53 The Best Career Advice Katie Ever Received 00:51:35 Is Adult Entertainment Empowering? 00:52:26 What Fans Would Be Surprised To Learn About Katie 00:53:51 Separating Work From Private Intimacy 00:57:01 Katie Kush's Final Bad Advice 00:57:46 Where To Follow Katie Kush Follow Ava Devine Instagram: @theoneandonlyavadevine TikTok: @1avadevine Follow Ava Devine's Bad Advice Podcast Instagram: @avadevinesbadadvice TikTok: @avadevinesbadadvice X: @avadevinespod Follow Katie Kush X: @Katiekushxx2 IG: @katiekushxx2

Send us Fan Mail Before social media made bimbofication, extreme plastic surgery, and exaggerated beauty trends part of internet culture, women like Kayla Kleeavage were already pushing beauty standards to their limits. In this episode of Ava Devine's Bad Advice, I sit down with legendary adult performer and feature dancer Kayla Kleeavage to look back at the era of big hair, big glamour, and even bigger implants, and how adult entertainment, plastic surgery, beauty standards, and sexuality have changed since the 1980s and 1990s. Kayla takes us back to the beginning of her career as a house dancer before becoming a touring feature dancer, magazine model, adult performer, and eventually the owner of her own production company. We discuss the legendary "big boob era" of the industry, when performers including Kayla, Lisa Lipps, Pandora Peaks, and other famous bombshells helped create an exaggerated aesthetic that would eventually resemble what internet culture now calls bimbofication. Kayla also opens up about the extraordinary lengths women went to achieve that look. This is a conversation about adult entertainment history, extreme plastic surgery, beauty standards, confidence, aging, reinvention, and the women who helped create an aesthetic decades before social media gave it a name. Chapters 00:00 Meet Adult Entertainment Legend Kayla Kleeavage 00:02:46 How Kayla Kleeavage Became A Household Name 00:03:32 What Was Feature Dancing? 00:04:21 Getting Extreme Breast Implants In The 1990s 00:05:08 From Men's Magazines To Adult Films 00:05:54 The Big Boob Era Of Adult Entertainment 00:06:45 Kayla's First Breast Augmentation 00:07:37 How Kayla Entered Adult Films 00:08:21 Kayla's Early Adult Film Career 00:09:23 Was There Competition Between The Big-Boob Legends? 00:10:14 Why Kayla Started Her Own Production Company 00:10:58 The Race For Bigger Breast Implants 00:11:58 Why Women Were Searching Overseas For Extreme Implants 00:12:48 Kayla's Polypropylene String Breast Implants 00:13:34 Why Kayla Has Had Around 10 Breast Surgeries 00:14:18 The Implant Complication Doctors Couldn't Explain 00:14:56 The Emotional Toll Of Breast Implant Complications 00:15:39 What Kayla's Breast Implants Are Like Today 00:17:13 The Legendary Big Boob Cruises 00:17:57 Did The 1990s Invent Bimbification? 00:18:47 Kayla Kleeavage On Modern Bimbification 00:20:20 Why Kayla Supports Plastic Surgery 00:21:01 How People React To Kayla In Public 00:21:34 How Adult Entertainment Has Changed Since The 1990s 00:23:10 How The Internet Changed Adult Entertainment Forever 00:24:00 From VHS Tapes To The Creator Economy 00:24:53 1990s Glamour vs. Today's Adult Entertainment 00:26:03 Why Adult Entertainment Looks Different Today 00:27:28 What It's Like Aging In Adult Entertainment 00:28:29 Can Women Age Gracefully In An Industry Obsessed With Youth? 00:29:16 Why There's An Audience For Women At Every Age 00:30:01 How Kayla's Fanbase Has Changed 00:31:33 What Younger Fans Ask Kayla For Today 00:32:30 Confidence In Your 20s vs. Confidence As You Age 00:33:12 What Kayla Would Tell Women Who Feel Invisible 00:34:58 Kayla's Unfiltered Advice For Getting Your Confidence Back 00:36:24 How Kayla Built Her Own Confidence 00:37:11 Staying Relevant As You Get Older 00:38:41 What Hollywood Gets Wrong About Adult Entertainment 00:39:32 How Kayla Kleeavage Made It Into Hollywood 00:41:14 Has Adult Entertainment Held Her Back? 00:42:07 The Strangest Beauty Trends Kayla Has Seen 00:43:08 Kayla's Wildest Fan Encounter 00:44:51 The Adult Entertainment Trend Kayla Wants To Disappear 00:46:36 Kayla Kleeavage's Final Bad Advice If there is one thing to take away from this episode, it's this: women do not have an expiration date. Beauty standards change. Bodies change. Industries change. What was considered extreme in one generation can become a mainstream aesthetic in another. Kayla Kleeavage built a career by embracing exactly who she wanted to be, long before social media gave that aesthetic a name, and she's still evolving today.

Send us Fan Mail Disclosure: Certain elements of this interview have been censored because I felt they were not relevant to the question and disrespectful to the individual being discussed. The documentary Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise introduced viewers to a Las Vegas house known as Pearadise, a place created around the plus-size and BBW community that became the center of serious allegations involving consent, boundaries, surveillance, fetishization, and the treatment of women who visited the house. Now, Pearadise creator Stefan Wilhelmy responds. In this episode of Ava Devine's Bad Advice, I sit down with Stefan Wilhelmy for a direct conversation about the allegations surrounding Pearadise and his portrayal in Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise. This is not a declaration of innocence or guilt. It is an opportunity to question Stefan directly about what happened inside the house, hear his account, and challenge him on some of the most controversial claims raised by former visitors and in the documentary. Stefan explains how Pearadise began as his private Las Vegas home before becoming a gathering place for members of the BBW and plus-size community. He responds to questions about who was invited into the house, whether visitors understood what they were entering, the absence of written agreements in its early years, household responsibilities, security cameras, livestreams, social media monetization, and whether women were ever expected to provide labor in exchange for staying there. The conversation then turns to the most serious issue: consent. I question Stefan about allegations that some women felt uncomfortable saying no, claims surrounding physical contact and photographs taken at the house, and whether extensive flirting or previous sexual conversations can ever be interpreted as consent. Stefan disputes many of the allegations made against him, provides his account of specific incidents, and explains why he believes events at Pearadise were misrepresented. We also discuss what Stefan says he has changed since those events, including clearer house rules, written agreements, and asking for explicit consent , even for physical contact as simple as a hug. Whether you've watched Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise, followed the controversy surrounding Pearadise online, or are hearing about the story for the first time, this conversation offers Stefan Wilhelmy the opportunity to answer difficult questions directly. Chapters 00:00 Stefan Wilhelmy Responds To Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise 00:00:50 Consent, Safety & The Allegations Against Pearadise 00:01:37 What Was The Original Purpose Of Pearadise? 00:03:11 Stefan's History In The BBW Community 00:04:42 How COVID & TikTok Changed Everything 00:06:48 How Pearadise Began On TikTok 00:07:27 Why Stefan Says TikTok Became Part Of The Problem 00:11:04 Was Pearadise Really Just A Party House? 00:12:27 Were Visitors Required To Sign Agreements? 00:14:34 Was Pearadise A Content House? 00:16:15 Were Visitors Expected To Hook Up With Stefan? 00:17:52 Nudity, Parties & Sexual Boundaries At Pearadise 00:18:51 What Were Women Expected To Do Around The House? 00:21:58 Cooking, Cleaning & Household Responsibilities 00:23:13 Why Women Helped With Stefan's Business 00:25:15 Were Women Compensated For Their Work? 00:27:15 Why Was Pearadise Covered In Security Cameras? 00:31:10 The Real Reason Stefan Says He Installed Cameras 00:32:35 Did Visitors Know They Were Being Recorded? 00:34:28 How Stefan Says The Security Footage Was Used 00:36:36 Did Stefan Make Money From Pearadise? 00:39:25 Stefan Responds To The Consent Allegations 00:40:10 Stefan Responds To Savvy's Claims 00:42:11 Can Flirting Ever Mean Consent? 00:43:30 The Controversial Pool Photograph 00:45:25 Stefan Says Security Footage Supports His Account 00:46:50 What Happened After The Allegations Surfaced? 00:47:42 Stefan Discusses Piggy Stardust 00:50:00 What Happened With The Legal Case? 00:51:24 Stefan On Consent & Implied Consent 00:52:51 What Stefan Says He Has Changed Since Then 00:54:25 Why Consent Can Always Be Withdrawn 00:54:59 Is Pearadise Still Operating Today? 00:56:29 Stefan Responds To Feederism Claims 00:57:45 What Is Pearadise Like Today? 00:58:36 What Stefan Says He Gave The Documentary Producers 01:00:47 What Stefan Wants Viewers To Know 01:01:29 Stefan Responds To The "Escaping Pearadise" Title

Send us Fan Mail We discuss Carmela’s fitness and weight loss transformation, emotional eating, body image, creator marketing, personal branding, social media strategy, consent, performer safety, friendships, competition, diversity, dating, and the physical and mental demands of working in adult entertainment. Carmela explains how she entered the industry with only **$27.32**, used her marketing education to build an authentic brand, and transformed her health after experiencing obesity, prediabetes, arthritis, and disordered eating. She also shares the painful experience of being assaulted early in her career, why performers need clear boundaries and support systems, and how community and mentorship can help protect the next generation. Whether you're considering a career in adult entertainment, building an online brand, struggling with body image, or trying to understand the business behind creator platforms, this conversation offers honest insight into the work people rarely see behind the finished product. In this episode, we discuss: 00:00 Why Carmela Clutch’s Body Transformation Was Questioned 00:00:36 The Essay That Defended Her Fitness Journey 00:02:15 How Industry Rejection Motivated Carmela Clutch 00:03:05 Obesity, Prediabetes, Arthritis & Body Image 00:04:48 Carmela’s Highest Weight & Deciding To Change 00:05:30 Emotional Eating, Breakups & Starting Her Fitness Journey 00:07:37 Why Walking, Running & Exercise Helped Her Mental Health 00:08:15 Why Carmela Clutch Entered Adult Entertainment 00:09:02 Starting An Adult Career With Only $27.32 00:11:04 Body Positivity & Breaking Into The Industry 00:11:49 How Carmela Created Her Personal Brand 00:13:57 How A Marketing Degree Helped Her Adult Career 00:15:28 Using Social Media Trends To Build A Brand 00:17:26 Should New Adult Performers Pay For Career Advice? 00:18:42 Why Women In Adult Entertainment Should Collaborate 00:19:32 Carmela Clutch Opens Up About Being Assaulted 00:22:22 Safety Advice For New Adult Performers 00:24:40 Consent, Boundaries & The Right To Stop A Scene 00:25:56 How To Plan A Successful Creator Collaboration 00:27:21 Who Controls The Footage & Release Date? 00:29:58 Building Genuine Friendships In Adult Entertainment 00:31:24 Diversity, Race & Competition In The Adult Industry 00:33:45 Why Collaboration Is Better Than Competition 00:36:18 What A Day In The Life Of An Adult Performer Looks Like 00:38:31 The Business Work Behind Adult Entertainment 00:39:46 Dating While Working In Adult Entertainment 00:42:36 Sexual Health, Testing & Dating Boundaries 00:43:20 Why Carmela Clutch Avoids Dating Apps 00:44:46 Dating Apps, Hookups & Meaningless Connections 00:46:08 Relationships, Swinging & Emotional Connection 00:48:18 Separating The Performer From The Private Person 00:48:52 Finding Genuine Friendships Early In Her Career 00:50:23 How To Recognize Ulterior Motives 00:51:55 When Friends Use Your Fame For Free Access 00:53:51 Why Some Friends Resent Your Success 00:55:58 Healthy Boundaries With Emotional Vampires 00:57:16 How Adult Entertainment Changed Carmela’s Life 00:57:59 From 208 Pounds & $27 To Finding Her Voice If there is one thing to take away from this episode, it’s this: success in adult entertainment is not built on appearance alone. It requires business knowledge, physical and emotional discipline, communication, boundaries, resilience, and the confidence to advocate for yourself. Carmela’s journey is proof that your circumstances do not have to determine your future, but you must believe in yourself, protect your wellbeing, and never give up.

Send us Fan Mail For more than 25 years, Sara Jay has remained one of the most recognizable names in the adult entertainment industry. While thousands of performers have come and gone, she built a career that has stood the test of time by embracing authenticity, adapting to change, and turning herself into a global brand. In this episode of Ava Devine's Bad Advice, I sit down with adult industry legend Sara Jay to talk about longevity, success, psychology, entrepreneurship, confidence, body image, relationships, and how the internet completely transformed the adult entertainment business. Sara shares how studying psychology shaped the way she approached relationships and her career, why she never tried to fit the industry's traditional beauty standards, and how confidence, enthusiasm, and authenticity helped her build one of the longest-running careers in adult entertainment. We also discuss the evolution of the MILF genre, the rise of independent creators, directing, producing, mentoring new performers, building businesses outside the industry, and why lasting success is about far more than appearance. Whether you're curious about the adult entertainment industry, building a long-term career, entrepreneurship, confidence, or personal growth, this conversation is full of honest insights from someone who has successfully reinvented herself for over two decades. In this episode, we discuss: • How Sara Jay built a 25-year career in adult entertainment • Why authenticity beats beauty in any career • The psychology behind attraction and relationships • How the internet changed the adult industry forever • Why the MILF genre became one of the biggest categories online • Confidence, body image, and embracing curves • Why chemistry matters more than appearance • Directing, producing, and mentoring new performers • Building businesses beyond performing • Entrepreneurship, branding, and career longevity • The biggest mistakes new performers make • Aging confidently and redefining beauty after 40 Chapters 00:00 Meet Adult Industry Legend Sara Jay 00:00:57 From Psychology Student to Adult Superstar 00:02:42 Building A Career Before The Internet Changed Everything 00:05:22 How Curvy Women Changed Beauty Standards 00:09:13 How Psychology Helped Sara Jay Separate Work & Relationships 00:11:51 Why Las Vegas Changed Her Life 00:14:27 Why The MILF Genre Exploded In Popularity 00:17:09 The Fantasy Behind Age Gap Relationships 00:17:59 Why Chemistry Matters More Than Looks 00:21:20 Who Watches Sara Jay Today? 00:22:56 Aging, Confidence & Beauty After 50 00:28:19 How The Adult Industry Changed Since 2000 00:30:39 The Secret To Staying Relevant For 25 Years 00:32:47 Mentoring The Next Generation 00:33:35 The Biggest Business Lesson Sara Jay Ever Learned 00:34:34 From Performer To Producer & Entrepreneur 00:37:05 Why Sara Jay Started A CBD Company 00:38:45 What Happens When Performers Have No Chemistry? 00:41:04 Sara Jay's Life Today 00:43:31 Final Advice & Closing Thoughts Follow Ava Devine Instagram: @theoneandonlyavadevine TikTok: @1avadevine Follow Ava Devine's Bad Advice Podcast Instagram: @avadevinesbadadvice TikTok: @avadevinesbadadvice X: @avadevinespod Follow Sara Jay X: @sarajay & @sarajaycbd CBD Wellness: BareSelfCare.com

Send us Fan Mail Millions of people are told they're lazy, lack willpower, or simply need to "eat less and move more." But according to bariatric surgeon Dr. Bernie Hanna, the science tells a very different story. In this episode of Ava Devine's Bad Advice, I sit down with my longtime friend and one of Las Vegas' leading bariatric surgeons, Dr. Bernie Hanna, to unpack one of the biggest health crises in America: obesity. We discuss the science behind obesity, genetics, food addiction, processed foods, bariatric surgery, Ozempic, GLP-1 medications, Tirzepatide, Retatrutide, mental health, body positivity, and why traditional weight loss advice often fails. Dr. Hanna explains why obesity is far more complex than personal responsibility, how hormones, genetics, environment, and ultra-processed foods influence weight, and why treating obesity with compassion, not shame, is critical to improving long-term health. Whether you're considering Ozempic, bariatric surgery, struggling with food noise, or simply trying to understand why losing weight feels impossible, this conversation offers practical advice backed by over 20 years of medical experience. In this episode, we discuss: • Why obesity is not simply about willpower • The truth about Ozempic, GLP-1 medications and Tirzepatide • How bariatric surgery actually works • Why processed foods keep you hungry • Food addiction and "food noise" • Genetics vs environment in obesity • Weight stigma and mental health • Muscle loss while taking GLP-1 medications • Functional training vs endless cardio • Insurance coverage for weight loss surgery • Whether Ozempic is worth taking for cosmetic weight loss • How to choose between medication and bariatric surgery • Long-term weight loss strategies that actually work ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 Why Obesity Is One Of America's Biggest Health Crises 00:01:57 Meet Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Bernie Hanna 00:02:54 Genetics vs Environment: What Really Causes Obesity? 00:06:32 Is Sugar Actually Addictive? 00:10:32 The Biggest Challenge People With Obesity Face 00:12:21 Why "Just Eat Less" Doesn't Work 00:17:31 Ozempic, GLP-1 Medications & The Future Of Weight Loss 00:22:20 When Should Someone Consider Bariatric Surgery? 00:24:05 Gastric Sleeve vs Gastric Bypass Explained 00:25:51 Why Muscle Training Matters During Weight Loss 00:26:43 Cardio vs Weight Training: Which Is Better? 00:29:08 What Is Functional Fitness? 00:31:40 How Doctors Decide Which Weight Loss Surgery You Need 00:33:25 Does Insurance Cover Bariatric Surgery? 00:36:23 Why Mental Health Is Essential For Weight Loss Success 00:39:48 Why Some People Travel Overseas For Bariatric Surgery 00:41:32 Can Bariatric Surgery Stop Food Noise? 00:43:33 Ozempic vs Bariatric Surgery: Which Should You Choose? 00:46:59 Childhood Trauma, Obesity & Emotional Eating 00:51:39 Is Ozempic Worth It For Cosmetic Weight Loss? 00:54:47 Dr. Bernie Hanna's Final Advice For Long-Term Health If this episode helped you better understand obesity, weight loss, Ozempic, or bariatric surgery, don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment below. Conversations like these help reduce stigma and empower people to make informed decisions about their health. Follow Ava Devine Instagram: @theoneandonlyavadevine TikTok: @1avadevine Follow Ava Devine's Bad Advice Podcast Instagram: @avadevinesbadadvice TikTok: @avadevinesbadadvice X: @avadevinespod Follow Dr. Bernie Hanna YouTube:  ⁨@lasvegasbariatrics⁩   Instagram: @berniehannamd X (Twitter): @lvbariatrics Submit your questions for the show [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail For years, Pearadise was promoted as a body-positive sanctuary where plus-size women could feel beautiful, desired, accepted, and finally seen. But behind the bikinis, social media videos, and messages of empowerment, many former residents have described something much more complicated. In this episode of Ava Devine’s Bad Advice, I sit down with plus-size performer, director, and creator Big Big Cherry to talk about body positivity, BBW representation, self-worth, adult entertainment, feederism, consent, community, and the darker side of what happens when belonging becomes conditional. Big Big Cherry opens up about her own journey as a plus-size woman in the adult industry, how representation helped her build confidence, and why seeing other women who looked like her changed the way she viewed her own body. We talk about BBW performers, plus-size sex appeal, body confidence, fetishization, and the difference between being desired privately versus being respected publicly. We also discuss her experience with Pearadise, the community that many women were drawn to after years of feeling isolated or unseen. Cherry shares what originally attracted her to the space, the friendships she built there, the red flags she noticed, and how the promise of acceptance can sometimes make people overlook uncomfortable dynamics. This conversation explores the fine line between body positivity and exploitation, especially when it comes to feederism, consent, social media attention, adult content, and vulnerable people searching for community. We also talk about her late friend Kass, the importance of speaking up, and why finding your own trusted circle matters more than belonging to a space that asks you to compromise yourself. This episode is about plus-size women, BBW empowerment, adult entertainment, self-worth, consent, friendship, grief, and the human need to be accepted without being exploited. So get cozy if you’re watching from home and turn up the volume if you’re listening. This is Ava Devine’s Bad Advice. What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro: Paradise, Body Positivity & Exploitation 01:54 Meet Big Big Cherry 02:42 Building Confidence as a Plus Size Woman 04:19 From Photographer to Adult Performer 06:39 Weight Loss, Body Changes & Fan Reactions 07:19 Plus Size Women, Sex Appeal & Objectification 10:08 Empowerment in Adult Entertainment 11:39 Recognition, Niches & BBW Representation 13:08 Misconceptions About Plus Size Performers 14:01 What Drew Cherry to Paradise 16:17 Adult Entertainment & the Paradise Community 20:43 First Impressions of Stefan 21:28 Consent, Touching & Fetish Boundaries 22:55 Feeling Empowered by the Women in Paradise 24:20 Red Flags, Control & Speaking Up 25:06 Loyalty Tests Inside the Community 27:06 Setting Boundaries Around Being Filmed 28:36 How Paradise Affected Her Friendship with Cass 32:17 Speaking Up for Women Who Couldn’t 33:02 When the Illusion of Paradise Broke 34:27 Why Women Continued Joining Paradise 35:58 Social Media, Clout & Content House Culture 37:23 What Is Feederism? 38:07 Feederism, Food, Fetish Content & Consent 39:41 The 700-Pound Scale in the Living Room 41:54 Fetish Shame, Disclosure & Safety 42:40 When Feederism Becomes Dangerous 47:06 Remembering Cass 50:02 Staying Connected With the Women 50:48 What Cherry Learned From Paradise 51:36 What Big Big Cherry Is Doing Now 52:21 Where to Find Big Big Cherry 53:11 Final Bad Advice: Self-Worth, Community & Speaking Up If there is one thing to take away from this episode, it’s this: community should never require you to silence yourself, ignore your boundaries, or compromise your self-worth. Real empowerment is not about being used for someone else’s fantasy or platform. It is about knowing who you are, speaking up when something feels wrong, and building a trusted circle where you are loved without conditions. Follow Ava Devine Instagram: @theoneandonlyavadevine TikTok: @1avadevine Follow Ava Devine's Bad Advice Podcast Instagram: @avadevinesbadadvice TikTok: @avadevinesbadadvice X: @avadevinespod Follow Big Big Cherry Instagram: @thebigbigcherry Submit your questions for the show [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Ava Devine's Bad Advice, I sit down with two of the adult industry's most respected transgender performers to talk about friendship, dating, relationships, fame, identity, burnout, business, and what life is really like beyond the camera. Emma Rose and Eva Maxim open up about how they first met, fell in love, stayed close friends after their relationship ended, and why mutual respect has always come before ego. They share candid stories about navigating relationships as trans women, dealing with dating stereotypes, setting healthy boundaries, balancing public personas with private lives, and protecting their mental health in an industry that often expects performers to be "on" 24/7. The conversation also explores misconceptions surrounding transgender women, the difference between genuine attraction and fetishization, mentorship within the industry, representation in media, cosmetic surgery, gender-affirming care, financial independence, and why authenticity is the key to long-term success. Of course, no episode of Bad Advice would be complete without fan questions, hilarious dating stories, unexpected confessions, and plenty of laughs along the way. Whether you're interested in relationships, LGBTQ+ conversations, personal growth, or simply hearing two incredibly successful women tell their stories with honesty and humor, this is an episode you won't want to miss. ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction & Meet Emma Rose and Eva Maxim 02:47 – How They Met and Became Friends 04:21 – Dating Each Other in the Public Eye 07:43 – Dating as Trans Women 08:37 – Chasers vs. Genuine Attraction 10:06 – Attraction, Fetishization & Boundaries 11:52 – Dating Inside vs. Outside the Industry 12:43 – Work-Life Balance & Burnout 16:28 – Separating the Performer from the Person 18:15 – Understanding Trans Attraction 19:53 – Relationships, Independence & Personal Standards 21:29 – Mentorship, Career Growth & Business Advice 24:10 – Helping the Next Generation of Performers 26:50 – Representation & Industry Challenges 30:24 – Misconceptions About Trans Women 33:29 – Questions They're Tired of Hearing 36:15 – Media Representation & Visibility 37:49 – The Meaning Behind "The Dolls" 38:38 – Cosmetic Surgery, Body Image & Self-Acceptance 41:38 – Gender-Affirming Surgery & Personal Choices 46:20 – Fan Questions: Dating, Attraction & Relationships 53:03 – Biggest Turn-Offs 54:39 – Guilty Pleasures & Favorite Shows 55:30 – Romance, Love Languages & Friendship 58:13 – Favorite Memories Together 59:57 – Final Advice & Closing Thoughts Follow Ava Devine Instagram: @theoneandonlyavadevine TikTok: @1avadevine Follow Ava Devine's Bad Advice Podcast Instagram: @avadevinesbadadvice TikTok: @avadevinesbadadvice X: @avadevinespod Follow Emma Rose Instagram: @ohitsemmarose Follow Eva Maxim Instagram: @devils_maxim Submit your questions for the show [email protected] #AvaDevine #BadAdvicePodcast #EmmaRose #EvaMaxim #TransWomen #LGBTQ #Podcast #Relationships #Dating #Friendship #MentalHealth #AdultIndustry #Representation #SelfAcceptance #PersonalGrowth

Send us Fan Mail What happens when adult entertainment is created through a feminist, queer, and pleasure-centred lens instead of the male gaze? This week on Ava Devine’s Bad Advice, I sit down with Dahlia Von Knight, owner of Sinners Vault VR and co-founder of Queer Crush, two queer-inclusive adult entertainment platforms focused on ethical, authentic, and pleasure-driven erotic content. We explore how mainstream erotica shapes expectations around sex, intimacy, consent, and connection, often prioritizing performance over genuine human experience. Dahlia breaks down why feminist and queer erotica takes a different approach by centring communication, mutual pleasure, representation, and realism. We discuss the importance of foreplay, consent behind the scenes, why many viewers are seeking alternatives to traditional adult content, and how queer creators are challenging long-held assumptions about what sex is supposed to look like. We also talk about representation, inclusivity, body diversity, and why authentic intimacy can be far more powerful than fantasy alone. This conversation isn't just about adult entertainment. It's about pleasure, connection, consent, and expanding the way we think about sexuality. So get cozy if you're watching from home and turn up the volume if you're listening—this is Ava Devine’s Bad Advice. In This Episode: • Feminist and queer erotica • The male gaze in adult entertainment • Why foreplay and intimacy matter • Consent and performer safety behind the scenes • Sinners Vault VR & Queer Crush • Female and queer pleasure • Representation and inclusivity in adult content • The psychology of intimacy and connection • Body diversity and authentic sexuality • Fan Questions & Bad Advice Follow Ava Devine Instagram: @theoneandonlyavadevine TikTok: @1avadevine Follow Ava Devine's Bad Advice Podcast Instagram: @avadevinesbadadvice TikTok: @avadevinesbadadvice X: @avadevinespod Follow Dahlia Von Knight Instagram: @dvknight Submit your questions for the show [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail What kind of society are we creating when cruelty becomes entertainment? This week on Ava Devine's Bad Advice, I sit down with therapist Ryan Wynder to unpack a question that emerged after I became the target of public online ridicule, body shaming, and harassment: Why do some people build audiences by mocking, humiliating, and degrading others? Together, we explore the psychology behind bullying, public humiliation, and internet outrage culture. Ryan breaks down concepts like dehumanization, projection, group validation, cognitive distortions, and the emotional rewards people receive from putting others down. We discuss why cruelty is often disguised as humor, how social media amplifies toxic behavior, and why online attacks can have real consequences for the people on the receiving end. We also examine body shaming, promiscuity shaming, ageism, LGBTQ+ discrimination, toxic masculinity, parasocial relationships, and the double standards that continue to shape public conversations about women, sexuality, and adult entertainment. Most importantly, this episode is about remembering that behind every profile, every headline, and every viral clip is a real human being with feelings, experiences, and dignity. So get cozy if you're watching from home and turn up the volume if you're listening. This is Ava Devine's Bad Advice. Topics Covered: • The psychology of online bullying • Public humiliation and body shaming • Why cruelty gets disguised as comedy • Dehumanization and internet culture • Projection, insecurity, and group validation • Toxic masculinity and outrage content • Promiscuity shaming and double standards • LGBTQ+ discrimination and social stigma • Social media, anonymity, and trolling • Coping with online harassment • Trauma, resilience, and self-worth • Why every person deserves dignity Follow Ava Devine Instagram: @theoneandonlyavadevine TikTok: @1avadevine Follow Ava Devine's Bad Advice Podcast Instagram: @avadevinesbadadvice TikTok: @avadevinesbadadvice X: @avadevinespod Follow Ryan Wynder Instagram: @thevegastherapist Submit your questions for the show [email protected]