Welcome back to our interview series, A Tryst With... Join us as we chat with Mexico City's Amaru.
We’d love to know a little of your backstory - how did you get here and what do you do?
Well, I was born in Mexico and moved to California with my family when I was three. I moved to Mexico City about five years ago now, out of a want to connect with other artists and queers. I’m a multimedia artist with a focus on photography, performance, and printmaking.
You describe yourself as a ‘shape-shifter’. We’d love to know more about that aspect of your identity!
I like to think of myself as someone who is ever changing and adapting with aspects of my being that are accessible to me at different times. In short, I'm non-binary, but more complexly I feel my gender and presentation are constantly shifting.
Can you share a little about your experience of being a brown non-binary trans femme sex worker? What's it like for you at those intersections?
I think that’s why I gravitate towards advertising as a shape-shifter, because I want to know I can be many things and am also interested in the fantasy and performance of it all. I think the most difficult intersection has been the non-binary and trans femme one.
What's it like for you navigating sex work spaces as a non-binary and trans femme person? We know that the industry isn’t always inclusive. What has your experience been like?
To be honest it’s been very tricky navigating my perceptions of what people want or see me as and how to advertise myself. In the past I have tried to just advertise myself as male, thinking that it would be easier and I would get more clients this way. I’ve had moments of trying to go full femme and advertise myself as a trans woman, but although validating, it didn’t always feel that right. Tryst is sort of me exploring a more authentic version of myself and seeing if it “sells”.
Has your gender expression changed since you started sex work? Has your work impacted your relationship with gender or its presentation?
Yes, definitely. When I started sex work I was definitely more butch or was a little more able to pull off butch, I guess. Although I already had long hair, I would put it up when first meeting clients and present more masculine. Over time as I've explored/leaned into my femininity and through presentation and starting hormones it’s harder to hide. I think sex work has made me feel like I have to be in a binary to be able to be marketable, and it’s been a journey not letting that dictate my ability to actualize.
Has your work influenced your sexuality or the way you view sexuality?
Not really, as far as my attraction to other people. Maybe more so in my sexuality in relation to my and other people's kinks. I think it’s definitely given me the ability to explore desire and pleasure and pain.
What’s one myth about sex work or sex workers that you’d like to bust?
That it’s an easy job.
You offer kink services and embrace kink as both a dominant and submissive. What has it been like to explore this?
It’s honestly hopefully just the beginning of my exploration into this. I think I always wanted to be a femme domme but felt I wasn’t femme enough to fulfill that fantasy for men. Being submissive is something I’ve been asked to do more, but I always enjoy when I’m asked to dominate someone beyond just “topping” someone.
How do you bring your own personality and personal style to your kink work?
Well, I’m at a point in my life where I know I'm unique and that's beautiful, so I try to bring the whimsy and those special parts of myself to my kink work.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
I love to go to nature, eat good food, and see/talk about art or culture in all its forms. Obviously spending time with loved ones exchanging thoughts, feelings, and ideas. I’ve been super interested in movies lately too, it’s been making me want to make a movie or short. Maybe a porn with feelings, haha.
You’re an artist! Can you tell us about your art practice?
My main practice is mostly based around photography, it’s largely been this liminal space between anthropology and autobiography, but I’ve been exploring the ability to curate a moment and its meaning. Honestly though, whatever I can get my hands on I get excited about and I use it all as an opportunity to extend that visual language.
Has sex work informed your creative work, and how?
Definitely, I think my art heavily talks about bodies and sex work has effected the way I perceive or think about my and other bodies. I think there has been a symbiotic growth of my art work and sex work. Lately I’ve been exploring the possibility for anonymity in a hyper-visible world, and I think that’s definitely informed by the oftentimes anonymous nature of sex work.
Do you have a favorite piece of sex-worker-made art? Is there a piece of civilian art or media you think represents sex workers well or that you just like?
Well, I was fortunate enough to be included in my friend Xue Shen’s sex work chapbook called Elastic Anthology which helps present multiple sex workers writings and images.
My favorite scent is: Body odor.
My greatest turn-on is: Being worshiped.
My dream vacation is: Euro tour (Paris included) that ends at the beach.
In the future, I plan to: Have kids? Be moderately rich and famous lol.
If you want to win my heart you must: Want mutual growth.
Want to meet Mexico City escort Amaru in person?
Head over to their profile! 👇👇👇
