Can Women Of Color Be
Successful In The Adult Industry
Without Substantial
Support From White Adult Fans

In one resounding word, no. And why? It’s pure and simple it’s the numbers. There are more white porn fans than people of color that enjoy porn. So it’s very important to have what is called crossover appeal. In other words you have to have the look that producers think will sell. Most of the time that means that she has to be pencil thin. For Asian women that maybe workable but for African and Latino women they hold there weight a bit differently than the rest. As far as the best bodies in porn as it relate to women of color the women of 80s had the best bodies. Women like Ebony Ayes, Jeannie Pepper, Angel Kelly, Nina DePonca, and Purple Passion had the perfect bodies to be the fantasies girls of the porn. Today all I hear is “thick”. But I guess if growing up you ate 3 or 4 times a week at McDonalds then you can’t help but be “thick”. Now I think the word “thick” is being over used when the word “fat” would suffice. I prefer the word tone when I am talking about African or Latino women. The women of the 80s were just that, tone and fit and they had that crossover appeal. What I would like to do now is go back and look at the women of color in porn of the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s. Each era had different things that they had to go through but they all faced similar difficulties too.

Women of color in the adult industry during the 1970’s were unique because they were the first. African-Americans, Latinos, and Asians all come from conservative communities where this type of profession is frowned upon. It was also during the time when mainstreams Hollywood imagery of people of color, especially black people were for the most part negative. The adult industry followed suit and produced stereotypical roles for women of color. Even with all of the strife that was involved with being in the industry these women were able to be a success. Remember, Vanessa Del Rio became a porn icon.

The women of color in the adult industry from the 1980’s were unique because of the times. The adult industry was in a boom because of the VCR. Once VCR’s hit the market you didn’t have to go to some adult theatre to watch porn you could do it out the privacy of your home. So the market for porn became larger and the women in the adult industry became better known. Women of color like Ebony Ayes and Jeannie Pepper developed a solid fan base during that time. They became the first women of color that were undeniable. Up until this point women of color were being told that they didn’t sell so they couldn’t get the box cover or carry a film as the star. Up until this point club owners didn’t think women of color would bring in a crowd so they weren’t invited to be featured dancers. During this time women like Ebony and Jeannie proved that if giving a fair chance they could bring in revenue just as good as anyone.

For the women of color of the 1990’s the scene had become totally different. There were many more women willing to enter the industry. Again technology had an affect on the adult industry. In the 90’s digital cameras and editing software came on the scene. That meant that anyone with a camera and computer could become an adult producer and many did. The adult industry became even more of a sausage factory and the production quality of many projects were poor. Producers were pulling black women off the street with no make-up and because they didn’t have camera or lighting technique made many look bad. Some women that could have made an impact were cut off at the knees by appearing in so many of this type film. The 90’s especially the late 90’s was a bad time for women of color in the adult industry.

Now the women of color in the 2000’s are 00s. And we all know that 00s are licensed to kill. But will we have one to step out and be the only agent that can defeat SPECTRE? I don’t know, the decade is half over and I can’t think of one woman of color that has stepped out above the crowd as of now. Question for the fans; are there any women of color that you would leave work early to go see at a video or bookstore signing? Because the market is saturated with porn, there no creativity coming from producers, and there is a race to the bottom because of this shock valve that producers are involved in it’s going to be very difficult for someone to stand above the crowd. I am not saying that it’s impossible but it going to be hard.



Desiree West- (time in the business and retired or at least when last film was released) 1973-1987; 82 titles

Desiree was an attractive black woman that started her film career in 1973. I think she was one of the first black women to get any notoriety from doing adult films. Maybe I shouldn’t say notoriety but lets just say she was able to make a career out of it. She was paired with John Holmes a few times. I remember seeing her for the first time in “Sex World”. It was a take off of this western-sci-fi film West World. I saw it on the Playboy Channel in the late 70s. I am sure Desiree had many challenges during her time. She never had a box cover or carried a film as a lead character. And it was during the time of the blaxploitation era in Hollywood. Black actors and actresses were pigeon holed into playing hustlers, pimps or ho’s. So what do you think she was going through in the porn world?

Vanessa Del Rio-1974-1999, 183 titles

Vanessa Del Rio, what can I say? Vanessa pulled off something that I am sure many during her time were trying to figure out. How did this Latino woman become a porn icon? Even if you didn’t view porn you had knew about Vanessa Del Rio. She did it all, like DPs long before it was something more common. 4 or 5 guys would bath her in cum and anal was never a problem. The Vanessa Del Rio persona was pure sexual energy and that was how she was able to beat the odds. Vanessa Del Rio had to be the original “undeniable” porn star. Once the fans got a load of this lady they were done. She had that star quality and made thousands outside of her film projects doing appearances and featured dancing. Vanessa was also one of the first adult stars of her era to use that Internet to stay in touch with her fans.

Mai Lin-1976-1999, 157 titles

Mai Lin was one of the first Asian females to make a name in adult films. Of course she did a lot of the stereotypical role. But the fire was there and she became a main stay in a few films from 1976 to 1999. Mai Lin understood that at anytime she could take over a scene and in many of her scenes she did.

Ebony Ayes-1986-1989, 155 titles

Ebony Ayes was the first porn star that I was a fan of. She had the prefect body and sexual energy that no one could beat while she was in the mix. Ebony came along during the porn’s biggest expansion in the market. She had a fan base so solid that producers or club owners couldn’t deny her but of course she was told that black women didn’t sell. But her fan base wouldn’t have it. She was always one to take control of a scene and I cannot think of one time when she gave a disappointing performance.

Jeannie Pepper-1984-present, 206 titles

Jeannie Pepper is one that you could tell was having fun in every film she was in. She had a models body with the long legs and busty chest line. Even today closing in on 50, Jeannie body can beat some women in porn today in their early 20’s. She was always ready with a quick line and was ready to take on all comers. Jeannie is a real renaissance lady. She has with easy been able to reinvent herself for two decades so that fans and producers wanted to continue seeing her. 20 years plus in this industry is unheard of.

Angel Kelly-1985-1991, 179 titles

Angel Kelly was one of those petite, tone and sexy women of the 80’s. Full of sexual energy, Angel brought it all to bear as she zeroed in on her partner. In most of her scene she was able to take things to the next level as for as heat. Once Angel Kelly was turned on it wasn’t an easy job to turn her off. She was able to do well on the dance circuit and had the devotion of fans.



Domonique Simone-1990-2004, 289 titles

Domonique Simone was the it girl of the 90s. She was being positioned to be the next black adult star. Domonique was doing plenty of films, magazine layouts, television appearances, and even part of a Hollywood scandal being a party buddy of Charlie Sheen. It was being all laid out for her then Domonique fell victim of her own demons. She dropped out of sight around 1999 then came back to the industry in late 2003 for about a year now she’s retired again.

Heather Hunter-1988-2004, 68 titles

Heather Hunter was a very unique case. She was a very petite women but full of energy. Heather didn’t do 70 films where as Domonique Simone did close to 300 films. Heather was a vivid girl for a long time and parlayed her adult film career to her dreams, a recording contract. Heather became very popular outside the adult industry also. She came so close to being that porn icon.

Asia Carrera-1993-2005, 369 titles

At one time the world was Asia Carrera oyster. This Asian beauty was in a lot of high budget films during the 90’s. Always ready to leave it all on film, Asia’s performance was eagerly awaited. She was a Vivid girl and was one of the first of her era to have her own website that she designed. She had cosmetic surgery to make her eyes less Asian looking. When I read that the first thing I said was; I was glad to see that black women weren’t the only one to be hood wink.