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My Life as Sex Worker Taught Me Everything I Need to Know About Money


If I didn’t work, I didn’t earn—there is no paid time off when you’re a sex worker. Sick days meant no money, so I cammed as much as I could, sometimes seven nights a week.

Some nights I made $900, some nights I made $25. Some months I made $6,000, others I made just $1,500. One month I made over $15,000, while a few months I barely made anything. My total income depended directly on how much I worked, how much energy I put into my shows, and—especially—how much time I put into maintaining my relationships outside of business hours.

Over all, in my year and a half as a cam girl, I earned over $100,000.

Step 4: Keep My Clients Happy

Building relationships with all my viewers was critical to maintaining an engaging room, but with some, my relationships were much more complicated. The bulk of my income came from “whales”—regulars with deep pockets and generous spending habits. Whales often tipped large: $125, $200, $300 at a time. Their tips had the potential to grow my income and stature in the industry, but they often tipped unpredictably, sometimes for nothing in particular.

Generally whales wanted more—emotional care-taking, private sessions, access to my personal life. If neglected, they would leave, and the loss of their support could cause my rank on the site to plummet. Whales took up a significant amount of my time, and I couldn’t incorporate them into my standard income calculations. If I didn’t build a relationship with a big tipper, if I neglected them, or if I failed to figure out what they liked fast enough, they’d quickly move onto someone else.

Step 5: Learn My Lesson

Camming taught me how to run a business. I learned to be entrepreneurial, to make a living off my creativity and self-expression. I learned about tax law, self-employment, digital marketing, the importance of a savings account and the difference between gross and net profit. I learned how to take a risk on myself.

More than anything, I learned how much work it takes to make porn and to be a successful sex worker. I learned that everything the movies taught me was fake: no rich clients fell out of the sky, no one mailed me piles of jewelry “just because,” no one gave me a million dollars for a smile.

Being a cam girl was the hardest job I’ve ever had. So, the next time you find yourself enjoying the content that sex workers make, compensate them—pay for your porn and tip your strippers well. Sex work is work. And, as it turns out, hard work at that.

Isa Mazzei is a screenwriter, producer, and the author of Camgirl. Follow her at @isaiswrong.



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Nécessaire Reviews: 9 Products Worth Your Money


Spend two minutes scrolling through any Insta-girl’s feed, and chances are you’ll come across Nécessaire. Since the body care brand launched in 2018, it’s been impossible to avoid photos of its yellowy-orange body washes propped up next to a eucalyptus plant or Diptyque candle, all living together in #Instabathroom harmony.

The sheer volume of influencers hyping it is enough to make you skeptical…if the products genuinely weren’t so good.

The thinking behind the brand is that the products you use daily, like body wash and body lotion, don’t have to be an afterthought—they can be both good for your body and your wellbeing. The result is a line of five products, some available in two pure essential-oil scents, Sandalwood and Eucalyptus, that will leave your skin feeling incredible while simultaneously transforming your shower or bath routine into a relaxing spa-like experience. The scrubs, washes, and lotions are all made with a list of no’s: No parabens, phthalates, sulfates, or silicones, to name a few. There’s also The Sex Gel which might just be the only lube you’ll ever see people proudly display in their shelfie.

The reason we can say all this with confidence is because we asked the Glamour team to test out all of Nécessaire’s products (at the behest of many of our friends) to truly see if the internet sensation is all it’s cracked up to be. The result was pretty unanimous: Yeah, it is. Read on for our honest Nécessaire reviews.

All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.





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KKW Beauty Review: 11 Products Worth Your Money


While Kylie Jenner might be the beauty billionaire in the family, Kim Kardashian’s line, KKW Beauty, isn’t one to sleep on.

Since its launch in 2017, Kardashian’s made an art form of releasing limited-edition drops that bring in double-digit millions in a single day (no doubt, with some influence from Kylie along the way). But over the past two years, the brand has evolved from contour sticks and fragrance to a full-blown empire, including lipsticks, concealers, and even body makeup. Following in Kylie’s footsteps, the line was previously only available on Kim’s site, but starting today, most of the collection will be available at Ulta, both online and in store.

As with any celebrity line, though, we’ve gotten a lot of questions from friends: Are the products actually any good? Or is the fact that they sell out constantly due to Kim’s devoted fans? The TL;DR? Honestly, yeah, they’re worth your money.

We asked Glamour staffers to test everything from the brand, and while her lipsticks were definitely a standout (the red looks great on everyone), there were rave reviews across the board. Scroll on for our honest thoughts.

All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.



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Avoid Money Fights With Your Partner By Using These 4 Expert-Approved Tips


She Makes Money Moves is a new podcast from Glamour and iHeartRadio. Hosted by Glamour editor-in-chief Samantha Barry, the podcast shares intimate, unscripted stories from women across the country along with advice from financial experts to help guide those women—and women everywhere—forward. Download a new episode every Tuesday, then visit glamour.com/money for an article like this, with more insights from that week’s expert.

According to a recent survey, money is a greater source of relationship tension than sex. Money can be such a deal-breaker that nearly one-quarter of participants said they’d broken up with a partner over financial concerns. And 58 percent of the people surveyed said that they’d rather stay single than shack up with someone who’s bad with their budget. When it comes to relationships, money matters. But if you’re honest with your partner about your finances—warts and all—it can be something that brings you together, instead of driving you apart.

In this week’s episode of She Makes Money Moves, “Equal Partners With Unequal Paychecks,” Sam Barry spoke with a woman who earns less than half of what her husband makes. While her husband doesn’t push her to make more, she still feels guilty. So she over-compensates by doing all of the housework—even after working a full day. Barry welcomed on financial expert Stefanie O’Connell to discuss her experience and how other women can have a healthier financial relationship with their partner. Here O’Connell shares her best tips.

Have a “money date”

Gender dynamics and economic roles may be shifting, but when it comes to managing money, the golden rule of relationships still stands—talk about it. Unfortunately, a lot of us only talk about money when it’s already become a point of tension or conflict in our relationships. Unsurprisingly, these emotionally heated moments are not the best time to try talking to our partner about money for the first time. Set yourself up for success by picking a time and place dedicated to a calm and constructive money conversation, or a “money date.”

As you start sharing financial details with your partner, it’s important to dig into any details or differences that might require further conversation. Not just differences in income, but differences in credit, debt, spending values, etc. Essentially, any financial detail that has the potential to affect both of you needs to be discussed. For example, if your partner has bad credit and you’re going to be moving in together, you’ll want to know that before you go apartment hunting and start filling out lease or mortgage applications.

Reviewing your credit reports together can also tell you whether your partner is making an effort to improve their financial habits, or whether missing payments and skipping out on bills is a persistent problem. Sharing this kind of information can point to potential pain points in your financial future together and give you an opportunity to work through them as a team. It’s important to remember that this process isn’t about judging or criticizing your partner, it’s about figuring out ways you can help each other and your relationship grow. If your partner fears judgment or shame around their money habits, you can help them open up by sharing your own financial fears and mistakes. These are hard conversations, but being compassionate and supportive with one another will serve you, your relationship and your finances. Failing to talk about these financial details and keeping things hidden like overspending and secret debt can be a breeding ground for fights, and break down the trust that’s essential for the growth of your relationship.

On the flip side, open and honest discussions of your financial failures and goals can bond you as a team, even when you disagree, by building a foundation for you to handle problems together.

Make a game plan for expenses

As far as how you’ll share expenses, especially with different incomes, you have to decide what works for you. Like all personal choices, there’s no one right way to do it. The only “right way” is the one you and your partner agree on—and what’s right for you now may not be right for you in six months. So it’s important to revisit these conversations by scheduling “money dates” regularly. Maybe you split your expenses 50/50 as you start living together or maybe you contribute to shared household expenses as a percentage of your relative incomes. Then, maybe you get married and decide to live off of one partner’s income while putting the rest in savings. Whatever you decide, it’s important that you’re both involved in the process.

Don’t leave all financial planning to one partner

Be wary of having only one partner handle all financial matters. Not only can this be disempowering, in some cases, it can set you up to be a victim of financial abuse. For example, your partner may use your money without your permission or use your identity to gain access to credit and loans or refuse you access to your money without going through him or her. So whatever jobs you choose for yourselves in the context of your shared money management strategy, it’s essential that you both be involved. It’s not enough to make a plan, then pass it on to one partner while the other tunes out completely. While you can experiment with delegating various financial tasks and how you split and share your financial responsibilities, the key is making sure you’re both involved in all aspects of your financial life and putting together a framework that works for both of you.



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6 Tips to Make Money Conversations With Friends As Painless As Possible


She Makes Money Moves is a new podcast from Glamour and iHeartRadio. Hosted by Glamour editor-in-chief Samantha Barry, the podcast shares intimate, unscripted stories from women across the country along with advice from financial experts to help guide those women—and women everywhere—forward. Download a new episode every Tuesday, then visit glamour.com/money for an article like this, with more insights from that week’s expert.

We all know that dreaded feeling. The check comes and while you’ve only ordered a salad, your friends—who’ve had an appetizer, an entrée, and two glasses of wine each—suggest you just “split the bill.” You get a Paperless Post with an invitation to a bachelorette party in Cancun, and while you want to celebrate with the bride, it’s just not in your budget. You get a Venmo request for the present you agreed to go in on for a close friend, and it’s…three times the amount you were told it would be.

But somehow, even though we’ve all been there, it still feels awkward to talk about financial situations with friends and loved ones. The guests on this week’s episode—”Friends With Money—And Friends Without”—have two wildly different financial situations. One feels like she has the least disposable income in her friend group, while the other is at a point in her life where she has more than most in her circle. Each situation presents its own unique set of problems, which Barry and financial expert Stefanie O’Connell explored on the episode. Here, O’Connell shares a few more ways to make money conversations with friends pain-free. Or at least, less agonizing.

Be the one to initiate the conversation

I’m not going to pretend that you won’t feel awkward having conversations with your friends about money, but that doesn’t mean those conversations are not worth having. What should really make us uncomfortable is the idea of going into debt simply to avoid some social awkwardness or to keep up appearances. Money is already part of our social lives. Going out, giving gifts, celebrating major milestones like marriage—all of these things have financial implications. And we each have our own set expectations around them. The thing is, we rarely talk about those financial expectations. Even when the expectations of those we love are out of alignment with our own—leading to stress, resentment, and even debt. Instead of suppressing those feelings and conversations, consider initiating them. Chances are your friends are feeling a lot of the same financial stress you are, so talking about it can actually help everyone.

Reframe money conversations around what you can afford to do

If you’re in a position where a friend is demanding a lot from you financially, take a moment to step back and run the actual numbers. Once you know what you can afford to spend, reframe the conversation around that, rather than making it about what you can’t afford. As you have this conversation with your friend, you can find the overlap between what he or she is planning and what you can afford to partake in.

Set expectations around social spending in advance

When it comes to social situations—whether it’s going out to dinner with a large group or being a bridesmaid in a bestie’s wedding—the best policy is to be straight forward and set expectations in advance. Let’s use being a bridesmaid as an example. Once you’ve calculated how much you can afford to spend, you can ask the bride what her top priorities are. Is it having you at the bachelorette party? Having you stand beside her in a bridesmaid dress on the big day? Or something else? Once you’ve both clearly communicated your expectations, it’s much easier to say, “I’m sorry, that’s not in my budget,” when additional expenses start to creep in.

Get involved in the planning process

When and where it’s appropriate, get involved in the planning process. By being involved in the social planning you can make sure to include budget-friendly options, and bring up important points like making sure activities are fun and accessible for everyone. If it’s a post-work drink, for example, you can suggest a bar with a great happy hour. Or if it’s a girls’ weekend getaway, you can offer to help plan, giving you an opportunity to find and negotiate the best deals on behalf of the whole group.

Start a social spending account

Just as you might have separate bank accounts for your checking and savings, consider starting a separate savings account for social spending—then contribute a small percentage of every paycheck to that account. Even setting aside as little as one or two percent of every paycheck can add up come next wedding or holiday season. If you have trouble setting up these systems for yourself, consider downloading an app that automatically helps set aside savings for you, like Digit.

Prioritize your own financial wellbeing

The truth is, you’re not going to be in a position to be a good friend if you’re in a state of constant financial stress. So it’s important to prioritize your own financial needs and wellbeing. It’s OK to say “no” to social spending you can’t afford so that you can say “yes” to your own financial goals.

According to a survey by Fidelity, the sponsor of She Makes Money Moves, 80% of women aren’t talking about money with the people closest to them. Today Glamour invites you to the conversation: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts in the iHeartRadio app, or wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us, as we help women raise their voices and make money moves.



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You Can Now Stay at Casa Amor Villa From ‘Love Island,’ so Goodbye to All My Money


As my beloved Ovie might say, I’ve got a MESSAGE.

Islanders: Casa Amor is now available for a “Love Island Experience” package, which includes a luxurious seven-night stay at the satellite villa #CoupleGoals #StartGrafting.

Jokes aside, those familiar with the U.K. version of Love Island will recognize Casa Amor as the gorgeous property that sits adjacent to the reality series’ main villa in Mallorca, Spain. For the uninitiated, Casa Amor is introduced halfway through each Love Island season—this summer the female cast members were sent as a surprise…where they found a new group of hot guys ready to lure them away from their current partners. It shakes the show up in a big way. And, more important, gives us yet another stunning home to lust over.

The “Love Island Experience” package includes a seven-night stay for two adults in the real Casa Amor villa with a lot of romantic details: rose petals on the bed upon arrival, breakfast in bed every morning, a date night with dinner and wine, three personal training or yoga sessions, and a spa treatment. It’ll come at a cost though: The villa booking price starts at £5,503 per week (around $6,708), and it’s an additional £998 ($1,217) per couple for the Love Island experience.



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