We had the opportunity to conduct an in-depth interview with Mia May, an erotic model from Switzerland who is currently making big moves.
Career & Entry
How did you get into the erotic industry, and what motivated you to take this path?
Curiosity drove me very early on, if you will (laughs).
It all started when I was 13 or 14 years old, thanks to the consistently negative and one-sided reporting in the mainstream media. All articles and reports, whether in print or on TV, were always in agreement. Everything that hinted at prostitution or the erotic industry was portrayed in a very cheap and degrading way.
The sex worker was always depicted as foolish, coming from a terrible family background, usually escaping from the clutches of an abusive stepfather into the hands of a brutal pimp who then sold his new “pony” to awful clients.
To endure this misery, there always had to be a drug problem depicted as well. The image was then rounded off with a reddish-lit room, where the victim was shown turned away from the camera out of shame.
This stigma was—and often still is—what drove me at that very tender age to start researching.
I quickly realized there were huge inconsistencies, and I wanted to investigate further…
What remained was a very critical attitude towards the media and a fascination for my wonderful, important, diverse, and exciting profession.
Was there a key moment when you knew: “This is exactly my thing”?
A key moment?
The entire construct captivated me… Key moments? There have certainly been many. One might have been my first guest. I was… too young, but curious. He was in his mid-60s and more nervous than I was.
A very, very beautiful experience with a kind person, one I still think back on from time to time.
How did your environment – friends, family – react to your career path?
My family is quite special.
Sometimes we’re spread across countries, but we’re always connected. And we definitely have the potential for our own TV series.
One of my brothers is a highly talented chess master, another competed in gaming at a world championship level, and the third was on the verge of becoming a professional footballer. Each of us ambitious in our field, but no matter where we are… if one of us needs support or closeness, we all jump into planes or cars and rush over. How does our family work? My mom showed us. Even though no loving mother holds her baby and dreams of them becoming a sex worker, when I told my mom at 18, she simply hugged me and looked me deeply in the eyes. She asked, ‘Are you happy, child?’ And when I answered honestly yes, she replied: ‘Then I am too…’
And that’s how we function. We don’t impose our worldviews on each other. We’re there for one another and respect each other’s wishes and choices.
My family respects my profession. And even today, one of my brothers is always in the audience at every show, in the crowd in front of the main stage. He always has the job of filming my performance. But the footage was never usable, because without anyone noticing in the cheering crowd, he would cry from pride and emotion for his little sister, who today goes by the name Mia May.
Yes, my family is very proud of me, just as I am of each one of them.
Content & Platforms
Which platforms do you like using the most – and why? Are there differences in the audience?
I mainly use 4based, OnlyFans, BestFans, and Visit-X.
I started in the cam sector on Visit-X. I always really enjoyed it, but for various reasons, it kind of faded away over time. Currently, there are efforts underway to really revive that.
OnlyFans is the market leader. You have to use it, but BestFans offers better support. That’s where you feel comfortable. The newest addition to my lineup is 4based, and I must admit, I’m starting to favor that platform.
The personal support is very good, the system is excellent for users, and the business model is fair. It’s a Swiss company that I’ve discovered for myself.
It currently looks like the links on my Jeeps… might be changing. But I don’t want to reveal more just yet… so stay tuned.
In the next interview 😉
What does a typical content day look like for you? Is it more creatively chaotic or carefully planned?
Always organized creativity, I would say. This job runs no differently than any other.
It’s a hell of a lot of work for many hands. Success has to be planned if you want to be successful.
Do you have creative control over everything, or do you also work with photographers, editors, etc.?
That question is phrased incorrectly. I always have control over the processes in my companies. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be the boss. But of course, among my team are also photographers and editors.
You can’t do it without them. To be successful, you need a strong team.
Community & Communication
How do you interact with your community – are there especially lovely or unpleasant experiences? What was the craziest fan request you ever received?
Since I offer the full erotic spectrum as a sex worker, there are of course many opportunities to gain experience.
You’re limiting me a bit with your question to the role of performer or content creator.
Let’s leave it at that… The sweetest and craziest experience… well, there have been quite a few.
One fan got my “Mia May” lettering tattooed, others fly out to faraway countries just to see me at expos, but probably the most unbelievable experience was a morning call from the hospital…
“Mia, I have an appointment with you this morning, but unfortunately I had an accident,” he said.
I was of course shocked and wished him a speedy recovery, to which he replied… “Are you crazy? I’ve been lying here for two hours. They’re casting my leg right now. It’ll probably take another hour. Would it be okay if I came 30 to 45 minutes later?” I was almost speechless and told him he could cancel the appointment, but he insisted: “You don’t cancel an appointment with THE Mia May!”
Well, what can I say… 45 minutes late, fresh out of surgery, he hobbled into my studio on two crutches.
I love my fans, and I think they love me too… though some do go a little overboard, like those who have taken my mail… or the one who rummaged through my trash… but it’s still kind of sweet.
How important is interaction with your followers to you, and where do you draw the line?
Interaction is always very important to me, because without my fans and followers, at the end of the day, I’d just be a girl who likes being naked, right?
There’s only one area where I draw a strict line. My name is Mia. Even my mom often calls me that now, but of course, Mia wasn’t my birth name. Some fans try to find out my real name and happily message me using it. I react… extremely allergic to that. It quickly leads to blocking and cutting off contact.
My real name, along with my younger, underage brother, is the only thing I want to keep protected from the public.
In difficult situations, it gives me a sense of safety, like a shield. That’s a boundary I won’t allow to be crossed. Otherwise, I’m totally open. I’m happy about every fan who asks for an autograph—many even recognize my family by sight.
There are (almost) no secrets.
Body, Self-Image & Empowerment
What does sexuality mean to you – privately vs. professionally?
Sexuality is a basic human need according to Maslow. It’s just as important as eating, drinking, and sleeping. And that’s how much it means to me. Unfortunately, many people today have little or no access to sexuality. That’s sad, and sometimes even dangerous. I see it as part of my mission to offer these people a way to experience and live out their sexuality in a way that suits them.
Do you feel your work strengthens you personally – in terms of confidence and body awareness?
Of course it strengthens me. In private, I’m actually rather shy or reserved, but thanks to my professional life, I can now handle many situations much better than I used to.
Confidence…? I feel completely comfortable naked on stage or in front of the camera. Still, I prefer someone else to order my tea in a restaurant (laughs).
How do you deal with societal prejudices against women in the erotic industry?
The prejudices are tough. They’ve been fueled for over 2,000 years by the church and by the media—either out of malice or ignorance. Breaking through that wall of nastiness aimed at us sex workers is another task I see as part of my path.
Business & Future
What are the biggest challenges in your profession – and the greatest opportunities?
In the online sector, the biggest hurdles are the countless different guidelines that constantly change, are invented arbitrarily by each platform, and often make normal work nearly impossible.
Clean-cut platforms like Facebook or payment systems like PayPal are great examples. They grow big through erotic content and then turn around and ban the industry. We are legal. We work hard and we pay taxes. We have the right to be part of the economic cycle.
The financial sector, however, often sees it differently. PayPal just closed my account because we’re considered “dirty.” If I want to access the money in the account, I can go to court.
Standing up to this madness is a constant and enormous challenge. But it doesn’t lead me to give up—instead, it drives me to speak out publicly about these injustices. And that’s exactly where I see the greatest opportunities to make a positive impact. Sexuality is incredibly important, and sex workers do extremely important work. In a world where loneliness is on the rise for many, our profession is becoming even more important!
Next week, I’ll once again be holding a terminally ill man in a foundation’s care, hopefully giving him a few beautiful moments.
My job has many facets. The work is incredible, moving, beautiful…
and still, it doesn’t feel right that I lose a bank account just because a bank thinks sex workers are “filth.”
How important is financial independence to you, and how do you approach business decisions?
Important. Clearly important.
Still, I work with my team like a family. And that’s how all decisions are made.
Where do you see yourself in five years – will you stay in the industry or do you have other plans?
I don’t have other plans, but I have a lot of ideas. I hope that in five years, I’ve sparked the same enthusiasm in the German market as I have in Switzerland.
As long as there are fans who want to see me and are willing to pay a little for it, I’ll be able to continue doing my job.
If that ever changes, I’ll do something else. Maybe I’ll study medicine, or work in Namibia as a development aid worker.
Personal & Private
How do you manage to separate work and private life – or is that even possible?
Not easy to explain. I don’t really have that separation. I work 120 hours a week. My work is a fundamental part of my self-image. It brings me joy. When I’m on vacation, it just means I reduce my work hours a bit… sleep more… and eat a lot more (laughs).
What brings you the most joy outside of social media and erotic content?
I am a sex worker by full conviction. Erotic content and social media are part of that.
Aside from that, I love learning new languages, I enjoy traveling… but most of all, I’m a total car nerd.
My two Jeeps are my babies, and I have this fixed idea that one day I’ll be touring around in a Ford F150 or RAM1500 with a loooong Flagstaff travel trailer.
Of course, fully wrapped as it should be.
But that costs more than I currently have. A dream…
Is there something you’ve always wanted to say to your fans, but never had the chance?
Always take a good look at the platforms you’re using as a user.
Everything you enjoy online is created by other people with a lot of hard work. No photo, no video, not even a text is made without costs.
Always be aware of that, and if you expect to be paid for your work, then be fair to the people who brighten your evenings and lonely, long nights with theirs.
I love you all❣️ Thank you for your enthusiasm💋
More info about Mia May can be found here: https://www.sweet-miamay.com/
