Earlier this year, adult film star Mia Khalifa made headlines when she took to TikTok to share her regrets about working in the porn industry. These days Khalifa works as a sports commentator, but she’s not the only adult film star to leave the porn industry and completely change careers.
Jessie Andrews
After leaving high school in 2010, Jessie Andrews pursued a career in porn and ended up performing in over 140 adult films. However, her career didn’t last long as she was one of the few adult actresses to break into the mainstream as a DJ and model for American Apparel, Monster Children and C-Heads. In 2012, Andrews launched her jewellery line Bagatiba, in 2016 she branched into swimwear and in 2017, she launched the fashion brand Jeu Illimite.
Sasha Grey
In 2006, Sasha Grey – whose real name is Marina Ann Hantzis – moved to LA to pursue a career in hardcore porn. She quickly skyrocketed to success, won multiple adult movie awards, and was even labelled the next Jenna Jameson. In 2001, Grey announced her retirement from the porn industry and has since appeared in films including The Girlfriend Experience, I Melt With You and Would You Rather. Sasha Grey also has a career as an electronic musician and regularly DJs, publishing her mixes on SoundCloud.
Ilona Staller
Ilona Staller AKA Cicciolina appeared in her first hardcore porn film in the early ‘80s and appeared nude in Playboy all over the world. In an unexpected turn of events, Staller was also presented as a candidate to the Italian parliament during this time and ended up being elected in 1987. During her time in office, Staller offered to have sex with Saddam Hussein in exchange for peace, founded the political movement Partito dell’Amore (‘Party of Love’) and announced plans to run for mayor of Milan.
Fredrik Eklund
Before moving to New York City, Swedish-born real estate broker Fredrik Eklund acted in a number of porn films under the pseudonym Tag Erikkson. Since then, the former porn star has changed careers and has reportedly closed over five billion dollars in residential real estate and is one of five brokers that stars in the Bravo reality TV show Million Dollar Listing New York.