By Daphny Meyer
A wise man asked me some time ago, right when I started camming, “Who is Daphny Meyer?”
I looked at him a bit perplexed. “Me,” I replied.
“I honestly believe that there is more than just your sweet yet simple ‘me.’ Find out who Daphny Meyer is, try to elaborate more — then reach out. Maybe we will have this conversation again,” he said to me as he walked away.
My decision to take up camming as a career was one of the hardest decisions I ever have ever had to make. Since I was a child, I have always been the shy, quiet type, always flying under the radar, avoiding human contact as much as I could. Being very petite and thin and small in stature just added to it.
Growing up, I never thought too highly of myself. I wasn’t an outstanding pupil in school, never ever the life of the party, always alone, always watching the world go by from afar, with my head stuck in a cloud, without any desire to get it out from there. After finishing high school, my academic years came to an end. I took a job in a small shop where I sold cheap brushes and paints to art students that were studying in the university down the street. I was still living with my parents and that killed me, because as a young woman you need your space, your thing. I had to do something to earn more money.
Then one day, an ad popped up on my computer. It was for a job offer to become a “cam model.”
Curiosity kicked in. I wanted to see what this “camming” was all about, so I applied for the job. What could go wrong? The girls look happy all the time. Maybe there’s something there? I thought to myself.
The next day, I received a call from Studio20. To my surprise, it wasn’t the voice of the Wicked Witch on the end of the line. Instead, it was a very kind lady who wanted to invite me to meet her for an interview.
As I arrived to the studio’s main headquarters, the same delightful lady that called me the day before greeted me. She was as calm and cheerful as I remembered her, very friendly and welcoming. It all made me feel like home. Not my home of course! This place was so nice and clean and everything smelled like perfume. The carpet on the floor had the color of a red ruby, like a Hollywood red carpet. Suddenly, a beautiful woman passed by, smiling at me. She looked so happy and glamorous. Needless to say, I took the job without giving it a second thought.
And so, my camming days began, slowly at first, as I had no idea what I should do and I couldn’t let go of all the misconceptions I had regarding the men I had to deal with. Soon enough, these, too, would melt away. Sure, I came across quirky or demanding people and all, but I was also lucky enough to meet some nice people who were looking for a nice pastime online. This was often because they lacked the time for it in their daily lives. I was making friends with whom I shared some of my sorrows and experiences. Friends who made me laugh, who told me I was worth something and also didn’t hesitate to show me beyond words.
A month passed. Then a second, and so on and so on until after almost a year and a half I managed to move out of my parents’ apartment and into a place of my own. My own little apartment that I decorated as I wanted! My space, my safe place.
Winter had settled in, and I was happily living alone in my small one-bedroom apartment (which I bought for myself and was making regular payments on). Life was as good, the money was good, until one day…
A thick and suffocating smell woke me up from a sound sleep. Fire! I started panicking at the sight of a fire in my home getting bigger and bigger, swallowing everything in its path. Without giving it any thought, I grabbed a jacket and my phone and ran out as fast as I could. What could I do? What did I do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I just stood there, barefoot in the cold snow, watching the fire dance its way through everything I ever owned. What else could I have done?
With my hopes and dreams now turned into ashes, I had no other solution than to go back to my parents’ house. I called the studio to tell them what had happened and that I couldn`t come to work in the morning, then silently headed to my parents house.
Even though I said I wouldn’t, I went to work the next day. The walls of my childhood room were suffocating me and I couldn`t stand to be there a minute longer. At the studio, my sad tears turned into ones of joy and gratitude. All my colleagues had already teamed up to get me clothes, money and whatever else they thought I needed. This was too much! Even the members in my room became alert and wanted to help.
In that moment, with nothing else to do, starting from almost rock bottom, I decided to work more — and so I did! The studio became my home, and my members turned into my closest friends. I spent so many hours online that I couldn’t even count. But someone was counting.
One day, as I finished my last private show and was gathering up my things, I received the news: I was the first Studio 20 model to win first place in Live Jasmin’s revenue period. I couldn’t believe it! I was beaming with excitement and with new hope.
All those hours spent online, the constant help of my team, my mission of not reverting to someone I no longer resembled or recognized — they worked.
I had visualized this so many times. My name in that top spot. I felt like a superstar. And then I remembered those words: “Who is Daphny Meyer?”
The answer was clear as crystal: Daphny Meyer is a fighter. Daphny Meyer is an independent woman. Daphny Meyer is a person with hopes and dreams. Daphny Meyer is a friend, a colleague and a confidante. Daphny Meyer is one of the #girlsfromstudio20. Daphny Meyer is exactly who she wants to be: a winner. And she will continue to be one.
For you models out there who want to thrive and become number one and for those of you who may be struggling, I have only this to say: Spend time online as much as possible, talk to your guests and members, be yourself, respect your support and marketing team, take care of your image and stay positive.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the recipe for success, it’s that failure is one of the main ingredients. So chin up, (wo)man up and relax — because no matter what happens, “We succeed together.”
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Find Daphny on Twitter at @DahnyMeyer and on CamGirlsOwned right here.
