By Peter Berton
YNOT – In the world of transsexual porn, Wendy Williams has undisputed staying power. The award-winning performer-producer has been a fixture in the adult entertainment industry for a decade. Yet despite her success — or perhaps because of it — she’s never too busy to help TS newcomers find their own paths. Her most recent venture, in fact, is promotional agency Hot Wendy PR, which offers other performers assistance in placing their news on blogs and other TS-friendly information resources.
She sat down with YNOT to talk about where her career has been and where it’s going, as well as what’s she’s doing to help other performers along the way.
YNOT.com: Asking you to introduce yourself is akin to asking Marilyn Monroe to introduce herself, but tell us a little about what you’ve achieved
Wendy Williams: I started out as an assistant to veteran Joanna Jet, who helped me form my production company, Hot Wendy Productions, in 2004. I then began my series, Wendy’s Wild Shemales, and released my own DVDs with Avalon/Blue Coyote Distribution.
I received my first AVN Transsexual Performer of the Year nomination in 2004 and eventually won in 2009. This year I received my seventh consecutive nomination for that award, as well as four others.
I also won XBIZ Transsexual Performer of the Year in 2010, and this year received six total nominations, including two nominations for my Doc Johnson toy line, which debuted this year. So far I have four items in the line: Lickable Body Sprays, Anal Training Kit and the first transsexual life-sized mold of my ass.
During my career I’ve had so many amazing moments. I could go on and on.
This year I decided to use the networking and marketing skills that I had to learn when promoting myself to launch Hot Wendy PR. Currently, I have nine amazing, talented ladies whom I promote and work with.
You have really embraced and succeeded in the adult industry. What drew you to it?
I don’t know what really drew me to the adult industry when I began, but over the years I’ve been able to incorporate my college education — communications and marketing — into forming a brand.
What would you say is the source of your success?
It has been my college education from Eastern Kentucky University, guidance by Meghan Chavalier, and most importantly, the hands-on education that Joanna Jet gave me in self-promotion, hard work and doing things for myself. Over the years, so many people like Heidi Pike, Darklady and Doc Johnson have continued to help me with networking.
T-girls typically are portrayed as a small niche, yet it seems there is actually huge appetite for T-girls among straight males. Which do you think is the more correct perception?
I was told once that [the T-girl niche is] one of the biggest specialty niches in porn, and I totally can see that. Judging by the numbers I see in DVD sales, website memberships and those who follow me within my social networks, we are not small by any means.
Also, many straight companies are jumping on the tranny wagon, so obviously they see there is money to be made. Sadly, most don’t know how to market [TS material] appropriately.
Besides the one-stop-shop appeal of T-girls — breasts and cock — what else attracts men to them? Is it being with a woman who understands what it is to be male, and thus is more accessible to the male mind than a biological girl?
Men who are into transsexual women consider themselves straight. I think the fetish or taboo of a beautiful transsexual woman with a cock appeals maybe to bi-curiosity or a bisexual tendency.
I gave up a long time ago trying to figure out what people think of others’ sexuality. I just like sex with men, so I don’t care how they classify themselves and definitely don’t care what others think.
You recently launched a public relations agency for T-girls. Are you doing this as a moneymaking agency, a public service or something else?
I am a businesswoman, so of course the money is a positive, but the main reason was to give my fellow T-girls an affordable option for promotion.
Most of the other PR people really don’t know some key areas and places to promote a transsexual, since they work primarily with mainstream porn female and male talent. It’s nice to be visible with [the usual adult press], but my job is not only to give them this option, but also to be able to promote them to dedicated traffic, like transsexual bloggers, forums and TS companies.
I am not an agent, as our genre isn’t big enough to constitute that type of work. However, as a model myself, I am able to guide newcomers with my experiences and let them make the best decisions for their careers.
You certainly have a lot of awards to your credit. What is there left for you to achieve?
I would love to win an award for my toy line and to get inducted into a hall of fame or two.
What is the one thing about you that most surprises people?
I am quite shy. I get really nervous in a crowd, and I still get nervous before a scene.
