Adult and internationally published fashion model, fashionista, and artist (fashion photographer, seamstress, and abstract painter), Skye Blue is a savvy entrepreneur who piqued my interest after I read about her out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to promotion.
Tired of the censorship challenges that mainstream marketing served up to those in the adult industry, Skye took matters into her own hands by putting up posters of herself all over the Los Angeles area. In addition, she had photographer Haley Warr do impromptu video and photos shoots of her to garner even more attention for the project.
She then included her URL (OnlySkye.com) which links to her OnlyFans and a QR code on her posters to track the first wave of advertising. Her goal is two-fold – she hopes to launch her career to the next level with her unique brand of advertising as well as create an advertising business for sex works so they too can be freed from the burden of relying on platforms like Instagram that shadowban and delete their accounts.
Read on to learn more about this award-winning (Most Spectacular Boobs from the AVN Awards, Best Tits from the Fleshbot Awards) go-getter who is looking to empower not only herself, but others by giving them an alternative way to market themselves.
How did you get your start?
I got my start eight years ago. While working at Dunkin’ Donuts, a coworker had a friend that started a cam site, and since I had just turned 18, they told me to sign up and go make money by being in lingerie all night. Obviously, it was much more than that, but I started from there and slowly started working myself deeper and deeper into sex work.
What do you think is the most important part of being a successful entrepreneur?
To me, it’s understanding the money circle. You can’t expect to get results without investing in yourself or your business. Once I realized that almost everything is how you advertise, I could invest in ways I knew would bring the circle back to me!
Talk to us about your unique brand of promotion and where the idea came from?
Honestly, it came from all the censorship online.
I got so upset losing account after account that I was like, “OK, I’m going to make it, so they see me whether or not they want to,” by thinking that if I advertised myself like half the brands I see on Sunset Blvd., they’d HAVE to see me. I seriously believe that IRL and print advertising will be the next big thing with censorship online becoming such an issue.
How has the success been with your new brand of promotion and what would you improve about it now that it’s had its initial launch?
It’s honestly been going really well!
I was super happy with how it all turned out, and it’s really rad to see yourself in print so large. If I had to improve, I would go bigger next time! Bigger prints, more eyes on them, more places. I cannot wait till my campaign is done so I can start on the next!
Tell us about your concept for starting a business to help other models promote.
When I was searching for ways to promote myself, I honestly found it surprising how reasonable the pricing was for buying advertising. Hell, I’ve bought promo from other models that were more, and if you know that ring, you know it’s just not the same as it was two to three years ago. So, I wanted to bring more options to the table for other people like me and show them how you can have that poster or billboard if you want it.
Why do you feel passionate about helping others in the business and what is your advice for those starting out?
Honestly, this job is tough enough as it is. If I could help a person avoid any of the rough things I’ve had to figure out on my own, I would gladly. I’d love to see an era of sex workers where it’s more of a community and helping others is the start. My advice for others starting out is to reach out to people you feel have similar career paths to where you want to go and ask them for advice! I wouldn’t be where I am today without my mentors.
What is your goal with your career?
My goal has always been to work professionally in front of the camera, so I’m trying to phase that into my life at the moment.
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Follow Skye Blue on Twitter @skybluewantsu, Instagram @skyebluehatesu and @onlyskydotcom, @TikTok @skybluewantsu, and you can find all her links in one place at skyblueofficial.com.
