Thanks for revisiting our sex worker interview series A Tryst With... We're talking with Seattle Escort Kelly K about 'preferences', healing, and being fed!
How did you get into the industry and what does your journey look like so far?
I started in the industry when the college financial aid package for me and my sister fell through. We are first-generation college students with a single mom, so I put on my big girl boots and got to work. I stripped, did street sex work, Dommed, sugared, cammed, porn, and full-service – so pretty much most flavors of the industry. The current stage of my journey is Domme and full-service work and I am happy with where I am. The many ways I participated in the industry have often been based on the context of my life and getting my needs met. I am always grateful that I am now able to be in the industry in ways that are based on what I like and where I feel I fit best. I owe the privilege that I have now to the hard work I put in before.
How many years are you into your journey and how has the industry changed since you started? How have you changed since you started?
I will hit 15 years in the industry in 2025 – that’s wild to think about! So many things have changed since 2010. From the rise, fall, and then eventual return of the visibility of street sex workers, to the popularization of stripping as “pole fitness”, the landscape in the industry has changed drastically. As many providers who were in the industry during and prior to the BackPage days will state, the standard of how to attract full-service clients has shifted to “branding”. There’s a lot to be said about this, but what stands out to me the most is clients’ desire (or feeling of entitlement) to see more into providers’ personal lives before booking a session. A very big change up from the standard of the industry when I started. As for me, I am in such a different place now than where I was almost 15 years ago. I would not change my identity as a sex worker for anything in the world – I’m tearing up a bit writing this. This industry taught me to find an inner strength that I did not know I possessed and is proof positive that I can do the impossible. My experiences in this industry, while not all sunshine and roses, have shaped me to be someone I admire. Being a sex worker has allowed me to afford opportunities that I would not have been able to access otherwise.
Personality wise, I have softened in some aspects and am better able to see the complexity of clients. When I first started stripping and street sex work, I was harsh and hard and callous in many ways. I was in full survival mode and that left little room for me to appreciate anything beyond securing my family’s next meal. My hard work during those times of survival allowed me to be able to get to a situation where I can slow down, look up, and truly see the whole picture of clients’ experiences and humanity. That being said, I have also learned how to hold boundaries in my professional life which helped me to do so in my personal life. Sex work has helped me become more of my true self and I am grateful for it every day.
Is there a common assumption people make about sex workers that really ticks you off?
That we are one-dimensional. As a society we allow for the multi-dimensionality of, for example, an electrician, but do not extend those allowances to sex workers. We live full lives with interests, hobbies, possibly other professional spaces, family, children, friends, partners, etc.
Has your work influenced your sexuality or the way you view sexuality in general?
Definitely. I have found that I feel more in control and honest about what it is I like in sexual interactions. I have come to appreciate the many ways that sexuality can change over time and present differently even with the same partner. Sexuality can look like anything and varying definitions of sexual identities make exploration all the more fun. One of the most powerful lessons that I have learned is that behaviors do not always align with what we think of as a sexual identity (i.e. a cis het man engaging with another man). Letting go of traditional conventions that limit pleasure based on what we think we are “supposed to” be doing makes space for truth and fulfillment in sexuality – given that everyone involved is a consenting adult.
What’s an aspect of being a sex worker that you really love?
The confidence and the community! Knowing that with a raised eyebrow and a wink, I can bring a man to his knees. I’m grateful for the support and love in our community.
Can you share a little about your experience of being a Black sex worker? What's it like for you at those intersections, and what is important for clients and the wider world to know?
Woof. It’s hard out here.
Many Black providers experience low-balling and/or complaints about pricing, meanwhile these same clients have references from providers whose rates are far and away much higher. The underlying message there is that they would never deign to pay that much to see a Black provider. Our time is valued less. We are valued less.
Let’s get into “preferences”. From HWP (Height and Weight Proportionate) criteria to what features are deemed as “upscale”, there are many ways in which clients exclude Black providers. Whether inadvertently or just straight up discriminatory, these preferences are harmful. Many client responses are that they have the right to select whoever they would like to book and they are right. They absolutely do. But, I would caution people to actually examine why they have those preferences. Especially the people who interact with Black providers online, leave heart emojis in replies, etc. knowing full well they would never follow through with an inquiry, let alone a booking with one.
I feel discouraged and hurt when these experiences happen to me and when I see them happening to others. I often get booking inquiries with slurs and racial epithets with the sole purpose of clogging my inbox, knowing that I will see those emails come through. That sucks. I know that I am not alone in that experience and feeling disheartened as a result.
To be very clear, I would never want to be anything else other than a Black provider. I am so honored to follow in the footsteps and legacies of the Black trans women in this industry who came before and paved the way for all providers to have more rights, community, and amplified voices.
You're a clinical therapist and counselor. Can you share about your path to that career?
I started working in physical healthcare around the same time that I entered this industry. I was a paramedic, worked in many different specialties in outpatient settings, and managed clinics. I actually just hung up my stethoscope to focus on full time therapy work. That was a huge transition for me after almost 15 years. One of the through lines of my time in physical healthcare is the amount of counseling I did during appointments. I found myself gravitating more toward that aspect of patient care as time went on. Also, let’s face it, physical healthcare workers are not paid for their expertise and knowledge and we as a society should be ashamed of how little respect we show them. That being said, mental healthcare offers me more autonomy, better pay, and more fulfilling work for me.
You offer a range of services from vanilla to kink to healing. Can you tell us about how each mode informs the others?
I think that healing is a part of all of the sessions I have in some way or form. Even the very cut-and-dry, traditional vanilla sessions. I think people see providers for varying types of release and that can be very therapeutic. I like to incorporate some of the ways explicit consent shows up in kink sessions into my vanilla sessions, especially in GFE. It adds a level of intimacy that builds trust and care, much like in kink sessions.
What kind of clients seek you out, and what type of clients do you really enjoy seeing?
The clients that seek me out are typically looking for relationship-like experiences and I also have a fair amount of submissive clients. They are usually cis men, but I am hoping to get more gender diverse clients in the new year. I like the lovey-dovey and/or adventurous types :) The more worship the better –- even without kink or BDSM dynamics. If someone is funny and intentionally giving me attention, then I am over the moon and want to see that client again.
What are some of your favourite kinds of sessions?
I like outing sessions a lot, like going to the movies, an event, or museum. I LOVE going out to eat and grabbing a drink. I am a self-proclaimed foodie and feeding me is a great way to get on my good side. I also enjoy sessions when a submissive completely surrenders and I can almost hear a click when they are fully locked in. Those sessions are so precious to me.
What do you do to disconnect? How do you separate yourself from your work life when you’re not at work?
I listen to music, read, and dance and sing around my house. I go to karaoke with my friends and cook with my family. I try to squeeze as many doggos as I can. I watch classic movies and anime on my couch. To separate myself from work life, I take baths, journal, and spend time with community. I go to therapy, practice gratitude, and volunteer when I can at local organizations that are important to me. Check out Lavender Rights Project and Green Light Project in Seattle!
Are there any artists, writers, characters, or historical figures – modern or ancient – who capture your vibe?
Eartha Kitt
Jacob Lawrence
Faith Ringgold
Carmen Jones
Sugar Shack – painting by Ernie Barnes
Isabel Allende
Hayao Miyazaki
Futurama
If you want to win my heart you must: Bring intention and attention… and feed me.
One of my everyday hobbies is: reading!
My favorite scent is: Flowerbomb by Viktor&Rolf.
I get a big thrill out of: discovering new shows and books that I fall in love with.
My dream vacation is: Tulum or the Mediterranean - I travel well!
Want to meet Seattle Escort Kelly K in person?
Head over to her profile! 👇👇👇
