LAS VEGAS – Pioneering online entrepreneur Danni Ashe, once known as “the most downloaded woman on the internet” received the Female Empowerment Award during the 2016 GFY Awards celebration Jan. 18 at Vanity Nightclub inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Created by prominent webcam site Chaturbate.com, the award recognizes strong women who’ve made a major impact in the adult entertainment industry.

“Our business model and the way we look at everything is different than other companies,” explained Chaturbate Chief Operating Officer Shirley Lara. “We empower our broadcasters. They’re creative and entrepreneurial, yet their achievements in our industry are often overlooked. We wanted to help recognize women who have empowered other women in the industry.”

Ashe became one of the most recognizable names — and bosoms — in the adult entertainment industry in the mid-1990s, when she began posting nude pictures of herself in Usenet newsgroups. After building a loyal fan base and teaching herself HTML, the erotic model and exotic dancer built and launched Danni.com, known as Danni’s Hard Drive, in July 1995. In 2000, the site made $6.5 million in profit; a year later, the property was estimated to be worth $30 million. By 2003, Ashe employed 50 people in a large Los Angeles studio.

“Danni Ashe paved the way for every woman who has ever hosted her own website, performed as a cam model or created any adult content of any type for the internet,” said Sherri L. Shaulis of AVN, which owns GFY. “When she couldn’t find anyone to create a site for her, she took it upon herself to learn HTML and do it herself. She showed women could have complete control over their content and brand on the internet, paving the way for the likes of Sunny Leone, Joanna Angel and many, many more. She was the natural choice to be the first recipient of this special award.”

Penthouse acquired the Danni.com properties in 2006, and Ashe stepped away from the industry. Today, she owns and operates a photography studio in Sedona, Arizona, under her real name, Leah Manzari.