A mother who works as a professional dominatrix has compared her occupation to customer service roles in mainstream industries, but fears proposed legislative changes in Scotland could force her and others into financial hardship.
Customer Service with a Difference
Porcelain Victoria, 26, from Fife, entered sex work at 18 while also holding a job at McDonald's. She now works full-time, offering services as a dominatrix, escort, and online adult content creator to a diverse clientele aged 18 to 77. She asserts that the financial independence her work provides is unparalleled, allowing her to support her child after relocating from Runcorn, Cheshire, to Reading and later Scotland.
"This is a customer service job," Porcelain stated. "My job is to put a smile on your face before you walk out the door. When it comes to a plumber, a driver, even a McDonald's server, we are here to give you a type of service." She emphasised the desire to perform well and earn "five-star" feedback, just like any other service provider.
The Threat of the 'Nordic Model'
Her primary concern is a bill proposed by independent MSP Ash Regan, which seeks to criminalise paying for sex. This approach, known as the Nordic model, aims to reduce demand for prostitution by targeting clients. Regan, a former SNP leadership candidate, argues it will help protect women.
Porcelain strongly disagrees. "Why am I paying taxes if this is violence against women and girls?" she questioned. "The government is constantly trying to bring in this Nordic model, which has no pros for sex workers. We can't even work together for safety. That's honestly ridiculous. We just need labour rights."
She highlighted the lack of standard employment protections in her line of work, noting, "We don't get maternity pay. We don't get pensions. We don't get sick pay, holiday pay."
Advocating for Safety and Decriminalisation
Porcelain is an active member of Scotland for Decrim, a grassroots campaign advocating for the full decriminalisation of sex work in Scotland. She links the stigma surrounding her profession to a lack of comprehensive sex and consent education.
"Why are people doing sex work in the first place? Because we can't afford to live in the economy like this," she explained. Her future ambition is to move into counselling, helping couples and individuals explore their sexual preferences regarding kinks and fetishes.
Reflecting on her work's personal impact, she described helping clients, often men in their 50s, explore cross-dressing and vulnerability. "I've had clients put on makeup and just started crying because they've never seen themselves really vulnerable," she said. "It's very beautiful to see the walls come down."
