Ryan Keely
Ryan Keely
Occupation: Porn Star and Adult Film Producer
Location: Los Angeles, California
The Sex in My Business: Sex is my business! I perform in mainstream and indie porn while also producing my own content on OnlyFans. For years, I exclusively acted in lesbian-only films, but after taking a break from performing, I started having sex with men in MILF-themed videos. Earlier in my career, I wrote a sex advice column for Penthouse and hosted a live Playboy television series where I commented on an array of pornographic films. Now that I’m back on set, I also sell used wardrobes and memorabilia from my film shoots. I enjoy having a job that offers me a safe and lucrative way to explore my sexuality.
A Typical Day: Every day is different, and I love the variety. My days are a mixture of creating my own content for OnlyFans, shooting promotional photos, booking photographers for future shoots, mailing packages to fans who purchased my used clothes from the set, as well as the other small but important tasks that go into running a business. Whenever I get a moment to relax, I sink into a romance novel or video games. It’s demanding, but altogether I’m happy with my lack of routine.
The Best Part: Right now the best part of my job is employing two amazing women who keep my business and life running smoothly. I’m in a place where I can afford to hire them part-time, which not only lightens the load but also brings me joy. I love paying and supporting women.
The Worst Part: Paperwork. It’s so tedious. It’s also difficult to make sure that my content is consistent across platforms. That’s why I credit everything I have right now to my assistants.
How I Got Here: I was called to sex work. I started out as a precocious teen reading Dan Savage's sex advice column in Seattle's alternative biweekly newspaper The Stranger. Suspicious of the lack of sex education in my public school and Catholic family, I was hungry for more information about sex and the human body. Throughout my adolescence, I got my hands on any book or magazine that discussed sexuality without shame.
When I was 18, I landed a job at a female-friendly sex shop. Once I realized that I loved recommending books and toys to people who needed a safe space to talk about their sexual curiosities, I decided to dip my toes in the adult industry. I spent the next few years working in all sorts of sex-related jobs, but didn't get in front of the camera until I was 22. I remained in adult entertainment for the next two decades, which has been a fulfilling journey. Having always been fascinated by nudity and sexuality, the work I do is a natural fit.
What Society Thinks: There is a lot of social stigma around porn. Even when I was working on projects that had nothing to do with sex, I found I couldn’t shake the judgment and shame. I've explained, justified, and argued all of the reasons my work is valuable to society, and why it’s the right job for me, but I have yet to see any true understanding, appreciation, and respect. Even those who know me best — my family, childhood friends, and longtime lovers — still look at my life choices through society’s biased lens of what a productive member of society is supposed to look like. But I’m finding that I don’t care as much anymore. I enjoy it, and that’s all that matters.
When I’m Not at Work: I nap, read, cook, and play video games. I also love decorating my apartment and working on home improvement tasks.
Published in Issue XI: Slut