Currently 26 years old (and turning 27 in May), Allana Mae hails from the United States’ Pacific Northwest region.
Mae has been doing sex work online since November, 2015 — and what was a dream from an early age has since manifested into an interesting sexy/political presence that’s both challenging and interesting.
“I write science fiction short stories that I might share with the public one day,” Mae shared — read on to learn more about what they’re willing to share now!
YNOT Cam: What prompted you to begin your career online?
Allana Mae: I worked in various positions and places in the service industry from the age of 18 to 23 before starting online sex work full time.
I wanted to do sex work in some form since I was very young but anxiety and insecurity coupled with internalized misogyny prevented me from doing so for years once I was of age.
I followed an MFC model named Ashe Maree on Tumblr for years without realizing what she did for a living. One day, I saw her post that she was live on MFC, and I checked out her stream out of curiosity. What I saw was her sitting in a onesie going off about men thinking the world centers around their dick, with over 100 viewers in her room and consistent tips. I thought, “Why am I not doing this?”
That week, I signed up for MFC and did my first three streams three days in a row and made so much money I was hypnotized. I quit my vanilla job the following week and threw myself into online sex work.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/cxaceX67wt
— All-Anus Morissette (@AllanaMaePromo) February 16, 2019
What are some highlights, challenges and general observations you have about working online?
Working online has saved my life. I live with CPTSD [complex post-traumatic stress disorder] with associated panic. I’m disabled and chronically ill. Because of this, working “IRL” jobs wasn’t a long-term option for me.
Being your own boss usually means that, no matter how little you’re able to work, you won’t ever lose that job! Despite dependence on platforms like cam and clips sites and social media, you have complete control over everything you do and how you do it. You have the privilege of working from the safety and comfort of your own home.
There are a lot of downsides to running your own online business, though. The two top issues being the inconsistency and the lack of external accountability. When you are the only person or thing holding yourself accountable, it can be so easy to not have the structure you need in your work to truly be successful in it. I find keeping a strict schedule, and using tools and treats to hold myself accountable, as well as seeking accountability from my partner and some fellow models at times, has really helped me, but it’s a consistent struggle.
I see you cam on SPANK.live — a “crypto cam site” — and MV Live, a relatively conventional one. What are the major differences in terms of your work experience on each?
So, I started on MyFreeCams exclusively for over two years and quit because as someone living with chronic pain, physical and mental illness, the ranking system was too stressful for me.
I had my eye on SpankChain for quite a while but was hesitant because of how intimidating it can be to get into cryptocurrency. What finally pushed me was simply asking for help. Team members and streamers alike jumped to give me all of the information I needed and more. I quickly realized that SpankChain is, in my opinion, one if the only actually ethical companies in the adult industry. The CEO and employees are all really wonderful, helpful, kind, compassionate people. I got onto SPANK.live after the beta had gone public and traffic had slowed down a bit, but at the time they were offering huge incentives for streaming minimum hours so it was easy to justify staying on when it was slow — and when it was busy, I met all of my goals and more. As a site in beta, at the moment SPANK.live usually has low traffic, but I genuinely have so much faith in their mission and I’m just so happy to support them and be a part of what they’re doing.
As for the differences between SPANK and MV Live, ManyVids is my primary content/clip site, so I like to dual stream there while I’m on SPANK for more exposure. I don’t currently make any money MV Live, but I have multiple friends who do very well on there. Hopefully I’ll start making enough to commit to it more soon!
Outside of work, what are you most passionate about?
I am a very passionate person with so many interests! I love ethics, personal growth and educating myself more then anything. I love plants and have about a million in my home. I draw, paint and make opoxy art. I also make natural body products. I make homemade Kombucha and Apple Cider Vinegar from my SCOBYs. I also help my best friend as much as I can in raising two beautiful children, a three year old and a six year old.
I saw on Twitter that you wrote: “Your moral perceptions of sex have nothing to do with me or anyone else. Sex doesn’t *need* to be anything. And a sexual experience paid for us still one shared and can be very ‘meaningful’ in itself.”
Why do you think some people are so determined to conflate humans — the actors — with sex — an act/series of acts?
That tweet was in reference to people thinking that sex work is inherently “bad” because of their personal and subjective feelings about sex and sexuality, as well as money and labor.
Many people have been conditioned to believe that sex between people who don’t know one another very well, or ideally love one another, is somehow inherently unhealthy. They believe that because they personally can’t imagine enjoying a casual sexual encounter or a professional sexual encounter that it can’t be possible for anyone else in the world to feel differently then they do. They believe that sex and sexual engagement of any kind *needs* to be “special” and emotional and intimate and definitely for *free* or else it’s inherently traumatic.
Your moral perceptions of sex have nothing to do with me or anyone else. Sex doesn’t *need* to be anything. And a sexual experience paid for us still one shared and can be very “meaningful” in itself.
— Fartsparkle?✨ (@AllanaMaeTweets) June 15, 2018
If you could change one thing about today’s world, what would it be and why?
I think so many things in this world need to change, and the way to change them is to share our stories and really listen to one another — increasing compassion, empathy and awareness through education and communication!
Find Allana Mae on Twitter at @AllanaMaePromo and on Insta at @MxAllanaMae.
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Erika is a sex positive people watcher (and writer). Email her at erika@ynotcam.com.
