There are topics that people just don’t like to bring up, and the porn industry is one of them. But why is that? This world is MASSIVE and affects pretty much all adults in one way or the other, and yet so many people are super tight-lipped about it—not very sex-positive if you ask us. That’s why on The Skinny Confidential: Him & Her Show, there is literally no topic that’s “off-limits,” porn included.
When we discuss this topic, we like to hear unique perspectives from people actually in the industry who really know how the sausage gets made. (See what we did there?) So, Lauryn and Michael sat down to chat with Lana Rhoades, a super famous former porn star that’s blazing a new trail away from the adult film industry.
Before you read all about it, make sure to watch the full Lana Rhoades podcast episode with TSC down below:
Who Is Lana Rhoades: Porn Star Turned Advocate
Lana Rhoades is a former adult film actress who became super famous in the late-2010s. She was born “Amara Maple” on September 6th, 1996, and started her sex work career at 19. In just a few years, she was the most-searched actress on Pornhub and had collected almost a dozen adult film awards. However, her life has taken a significant turn since the peak of her fame in 2019!
Does Lana Rhoades Still Do Porn?
No—Lana Rhoades hasn’t starred in any adult films since 2019. She does indeed have an OnlyFans. However, her content there is more curated, sensual, and artistic rather than being overtly explicit or pornographic.
Here’s why she quit this controversial industry:
Why Did Lana Rhoades Quit Porn?
A Traumatic and High-Pressure Work Environment
Lana describes her experience with executives and agents as less than positive. In fact, she said they were constantly pushing her to do more and more things outside of her comfort zone, leading to panic attacks before scenes.
If that wasn’t enough, she also recounted a situation where she was having medical problems from the aggressive work. Even worse? One of her agents wouldn’t let her off to go see a doctor. Overall, the work environment was high pressure and extremely traumatic. You can hear more about her experiences with the toxic porn industry in this part of her Him & Her Show episode.
Low Compensation Compared to Similar Industries
When Lana was chatting with Lauryn and Michael, she said she’d only get paid $1,200 per scene, despite being the most popular porn star on Pornhub. This became really discouraging, as you would probably expect. What discouraged her the most was seeing women earn more on social media and OnlyFans, but actually having full control.
A Strong Desire for Personal Control and Agency
With all she was dealing with, Lana left the industry to establish her own brand and personal identity. She wanted to create content that aligned more with her values and self-worth—content that was empowering, not degrading.
Embracing Her Identity as Asexual
Lana tells listeners in the episode she identifies as asexual. She explains she’s always been asexual, and that’s not a result of her sex work—she just doesn’t particularly enjoy sex. Because of that, creating content that showcases her body and sexuality her way, away from the fetishes and sexuality of others, has been an act of self-love and self-support.
A Shift Toward Anti-Porn Advocacy and New Ventures
This former adult film star has become a vocal critic of the porn industry. She openly speaks about the toxicity she endured, hoping to be a beacon of hope for other women still struggling. She believes women are passionate, hard-working, and fully capable of achieving their goals by channeling that drive into more positive and empowering paths.
What Happened To Lana Rhoades After Quitting Porn?
Lana has been doing a LOT since she’s left the porn industry. One of her biggest achievements is becoming a mom, but she’s been keeping herself busy with other things, too. She models, influences on social media, collabs with brands, owns a fashion and jewelry line, hosts a podcast, and so much more. This girl crushes every goal she makes!
What Is Lana Rhoades Doing Now?
Raising Her Son
Lana keeps her son’s life extremely private, but she does open up about balancing motherhood and work in her TSC episode! She had a complicated pregnancy, but the birth of her son was one of the most incredible, transformative moments of her life. Now, as he grows up, each day brings new joys and challenges. So relatable!
Building Her Personal Brand
Taking the leap out of the porn industry was scary, but Lana found her true fans followed her anywhere. At first, she dabbled here and there on YouTube—often ranking in millions of views with ex-boyfriend and social media influencer, Mike Majlak. Since then, she’s become a mega-successful social media influencer with over 14 million followers on Instagram. (Let’s be honest, she was always the star of the show anyways.) Lana focuses most of her entrepreneurial energy on building her personal brand!
Managing Her Online Store, LANA
Lana has dabbled in e-commerce a few times. She first began a clothing line and now owns a gorgeous online jewelry store called LANA. She sells beautiful and unique jewelry that’s feminine, sexy, luxe, and even a little Y2K. (This butterfly collection totally reflects Lana’s love of early aughts style.)
Posting Curated, Non-Explicit OnlyFans Content
Lana is still sensual, playful, and unapologetically proud of putting herself on display. That may seem at odds with her anti-porn rhetoric, but it’s not! Lana confidently posts non-explicit, yet still sexy content on OnlyFans that showcases her unique artistic POV and personal taste.
Curious about that? She talks more about her OnlyFans here!
Co-Hosting the Podcast “3 Girls 1 Kitchen”
This humorously named podcast was such a blast! In 2021, Lana and her best friends ran a podcast called “3 Girls 1 Kitchen.” It was a fun lifestyle-oriented podcast that discussed dating, self-care, and culture. You can binge all the episodes here.
Exploring Multiple Entrepreneurial Ventures
Since leaving porn, Lana has dabbled in lots of different industries. She has a lingerie line with Yandy, works as a marketing consultant, dabbles in crypto, and has done countless brand collabs with big brands like SKIMS and Deeezies. This is about more than just financial success—she’s determined to leave a lasting mark wherever she goes. (Speaking of SKIMS, here’s an exclusive offer just for our readers and listeners.)
Runway, Editorial, Glamour, and Commercial Modeling
Lana is a natural beauty who has built an impressive modeling portfolio, too. She’s appeared in editorial spreads for Maxim, GQ, and Elle, and has even walked the runway for designers like Alexander Wang and Dilara Findikoglu.
Advocating For Causes that Matter to Her
Lana got real about her mental health struggles during her appearance on the Him & Her Show. The porn industry took a serious toll on her. With a family history of mental health issues—plus a few diagnoses of her own—it’s something she’s really passionate about. These days, she’s a powerful voice speaking out against porn while also advocating for better mental health support and even animal welfare.
Lana Rhoades has overcome it all to build a thriving personal brand!
Lana Rhoades has overcome it all to build a thriving personal brand—and she’s not done yet. Her journey shows that no matter where you start or what challenges you face, you always have the power to grow, evolve, and take back control of your story. Lana has taught us that you can learn from your past, let it shape you (but not define you) and boldly create a future that reflects who you truly are. We hope you enjoyed the Lana Rhoades podcast episode with TSC as much as we did!
If you love interviews like this and want to hear different perspectives on the porn industry, add these Him & Her Show episodes to your playlist:
- Porn, Online Dating, Watermelon Jerky, & The Pressure of Social Media
- How Former Disney Star Maitland Ward Left Hollywood For Porn & The Adult Film Industry
- Dr. Justin J Lehmiller On The Science of Sexual Desire, Fantasies, Porn, Threesomes, & Stronger Relationships
- What It’s Really Like Inside Hollywood Sex Parties