What’s your name?
Nala
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What do you do/what part(s) of the biz do you work in?
Stripper
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How did you get started in the industry?
I was working at Best Buy at the time and hated my life, so i reached out to a friend that i thought worked at Dillards to see if her job was hiring. She told me she got a new job waitressing and made good money. When I pulled up to the address she sent me i found out it was a strip club. I waitressed for about 5 months and then started dancing and never looked back.
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How have you made yourself stand out when working?
I smile A LOT and lots of eye contact. But also, I really just be myself and find that that works the best. I wear cute ass outfits, from angel candy(; and get extra dolled up every time I go in.
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What is your funniest story related to work?
Funniest? I got shit faced and brought my friend’s dog on stage with me. (like why did the managers let me do that lol)
What is a goal you’re proud you were able to reach while doing and because of SW?
When I first moved to Austin, I could not get approved for the cheapest of apartments, even with my best friend’s application with mine. (I’m blessed to have a father that co-signed our lease at the time.) After a year of dancing I was approved for a brand new, luxury apartment based on my bank account statements alone. I now live comfortably with no help. I also have never seen so much in my savings account and feel very proud about that as well.
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What is something you feel needs to change in the industry?
The fucking women's bathrooms. I’ve never seen a decent bathroom in any strip club I’ve been to.
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What is your best tip for making money at work?
I trust my intuition 10000%. If I have a bad feeling about a customer, regardless of how much he’s offering, I will decline. (I’ve learned this the hard way when I was desperate for money) I walk into the club knowing what I am willing to deal with and get blessed for denying myself to men I already know aren’t worth it. Most of the money I make is just handed to me without having to ask and its almost always more than what I would have asked for.
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What has been something SW helped you with/encouraged you to do, or how has SW made you more confident?
Before I started dancing, I never stood up for myself or even knew my power. Like, I quit my normal job because the girls there were so mean to me and I was just quiet. I grew up very conservative, religious and taught to be polite and quiet. Dancing made me realize many things about myself and my confidence and ability to speak up are the big ones. I think at a certain point dancing, I was over men taking more from me because they knew they could or that I wouldn’t say anything or ask for more. One day I snapped, started speaking my mind and people stopped fucking with me since. I love it. Now I am not afraid to speak my mind in any situation (maybe a little too much now lol).
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What has been your biggest challenge in the industry?
My mental health. I struggle with anxiety and depression and being in the club all the time definitely gets to me. I would say when I am off my game I can find myself comparing me to who ever is making money when I’m not. When those thoughts come into my head, I remind myself that it is impossible for anyone to receive the blessings meant for me and I cannot selfishly squander the blessings meant for someone else. Also, if I’m already having a tough day, I won’t go in. I have had a huge challenge dating while in the industry but have chalked that up to their insecurities.
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Sw is exhausting physically, mentally, and emotionally- How do you decompress and engage in self care in the face of that?
My best friend is also a sw so being around her and both of us being able to vent and empathize with each other helps me tremendously. I would say having a solid support system with people that actually get it.
Describe your best night ever working!
This January! I had this couple flag me down to give the gf a dance. They told me they came for a friends birthday and I sat my ass right in the birthday boys lap. He asked me if I had any friends so I texted my best friend to come to the section and pointed exactly at who she needed to sit with lol. They ended up buying hella henny bottles and threw stupid money. We ended up going back to their hotel and they were throwing more in their room. It was the funnest night making money with my best friend. Its like it wasn’t work at all!
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We all have a story about a babe in the industry who we loved and were inspired by from the moment we met her- tell us about her/them:
I do remember having a friend in college that was open about being a stripper in one of my women studies classes and she had me so curious about it. Her name is Karly and I still talk to her. I admired how she held herself, what she had to say, how confident she was. She was definitely someone I wanted to be and I had never even seen her dance! Later down the road I ran into her working at a club and it was so presh. I’d also give credit to my friend Kat who waitressed with me. One day she decided to dance & I went with her to the store with her, found an outfit & some shoes on sale in my size, and went in with her. I credit her for my dancing career because without her I wouldn’t have ever tried.
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What do you wish people knew about us (SWers), and about you personally as a SWer?
I BARELY PICK THE SONGS I DANCE TO. I have to tip everyone out at the end of the night as well as paying a house fee to work at the beginning of my shift. I DO NOT WANT UR BOYFRIEND. I am just there to make money. After a shift, my ass is going home and to bed so do not asking what I’m doing after this. I am very open about being a stripper because I love it and not everyone can do it. I find anyone intimidated by it is their problem not mine. And I kinda enjoy making people uncomfortable when I tell them what I do for a living.(:
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How have you dealt with the stigma of being out as a SW, if you’ve faced any?
I LOVE IT. Please judge me LOL
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What are your plans for the future (can be related to the industry or not!!)?
AS MUCH AS IM A FEMINIST, I am manifesting a beautiful life with a supportive wealthy man that loves and doesn’t mind taking care of me. I see a lot of traveling, shopping and then kids with a beautiful home in my future. Business wise, I want to open up a elegant upscale spa.
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There is a lot of talk nowadays about sex work being “empowering.” Is this true for you and why or why not?
I think its empowering. I feel like a hot, bad ass bitch in my killer heels, cute ass outfits, hair and makeup done. How easily I can make money is such a blessing. I also don’t tolerate any disrespect at work so having the ability and confidence to say no to money they think is impressive is extra empowering to me. There’s a reason we are on a stage looking down at these men. (;
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What is something you wish you’d known when you started in the industry?
PRICES LOL How much to charge. Ive consistently had the same customer since I started dancing and its insane the difference in money he gives me now verses when I first started haha
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Where can we find you?
ON IG: @l0uisnala