Thanks for stopping by our sex worker interview series 'A Tryst With...' Today we're chatting with Victoria Escort Jayla Quinn about care work, Atmosphere, and autonomy!
You’re an escort, how did you find your way here, and what has that been like for you?
In 2018 one of the worst nights of my life happened. I moved out west from Toronto, ON, and immediately experienced police brutality and wound up with a criminal record. I had just moved to the interior of BC, or I should more accurately say, relocated as the job I held at that time paid to relocate me to the interior, however the company faced some challenges with opening the new store hence there were some delays with me starting my new job. I didn’t have money coming in and my savings was dwindling. I needed a lawyer ASAP. I remember sitting on my bed, with my tiny chromebook in my lap and I googled “brothels near me”. I called the closest one to me and the person on the phone arranged for a driver to pick me up from the bus depot that I intended to be dropped off at. That very day I went and got my first manicure, pedicure, and brazilian wax. The following day I was enroute.
I remember my mind being flooded with so many anxious thoughts on the three hour drive there. In just five days I made more money than I did in my civy job working 6 weeks. I was in disbelief and probably dealing with imposter syndrome for the first couple years of being an escort. I would say escorting has changed my life for the better, and I don’t just mean for the financial benefit. When I moved out west I was fresh out of a break up, a break up with my “highschool sweetheart”, so safe to say I was sexually inexperienced at 23 years old. It was so profound to have clear headed, sober sex with my first client. I was exhilarated that I could state my boundaries, collect my rate and take the lead and do it with no shame whatsoever. Since then I have worked with several agencies but eventually went fully independent in September 2021. Being independent comes with an entirely new set of challenges than working with an agency, however it is so freeing to have complete control over your branding, marketing, communication with clients, and incall space. Escorting has been life changing for me. If that one horrible night didn’t happen I’m unsure if I would have ever gone down this path. It’s a bittersweet origin heaux story.
How has the industry changed since you started?
I would say the biggest shift I’ve witnessed since starting sex work has been how hostile the digital landscape has become. Laws like FOSTA-SESTA and platform crackdowns have made it harder and more dangerous to advertise, screen clients, or even talk about sex work online. Many countries (like the U.S.) will ban or deport sex workers, even if the work happened elsewhere or is just implied online.I got into the industry at the tail end of Backpage shutting down. I never experienced that platform that veteran companions nostalgically talk about, but just hearing them reminisce about it made me realize that the way we have to market now is far more invasive than before. Prior to the explosion of social media and when Backpage was alive and well, clients weren’t privy to our personal lives or even a personified digital version. Now it is necessary for our business to thrive. They use social media presences along with “reviews” as a way to vet us.
How does sex work differ or align with other forms of labour you’ve done?
Sex work is one of the few forms of labor where I have full control over my time, my rates, and my boundaries. That said, it’s also emotionally and physically demanding in ways that “mainstream” jobs pretend don’t exist. Unlike other jobs I’ve done, sex work forces people to confront their entitlement, shame and projections. Sometimes all at once. It’s care work, it’s survival work, and it’s labor that deserves recognition and rights like any other.
What has being an escort brought into your life? What does it allow you to do that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to do?
Being an escort has brought me autonomy. It allows me to prioritize my mental health, live outside the 9-5 grind, and build a life on my terms. It’s given me financial breathing room, the ability to invest in creative projects, and space to imagine a future beyond survival. It also connects me to a community that understands care, boundaries, and resourcefulness in a way few others do.
What has the industry taught you about yourself?
The industry has taught me that I’m more resilient, discerning, and strategic than I ever gave myself credit for. It’s shown me the strength in my intuition and the value of my boundaries. I’ve learned how to read people quickly, protect my energy, and demand what I deserve. I’ve also learned that I’m not alone. That there is a whole ecosystem of brilliant, powerful sex workers rewriting the rules every day.
How have cultural narratives and stereotypes around Black escorts shaped your sex work career? How do you push back against it?
Stereotypes around Black escorts are loud and limiting. We’re often hypersexualized, expected to be aggressive, dominant or submissive on command, and rarely seen as soft, luxurious, or worthy of premium rates. Those narratives have shaped how I’m perceived before I even speak. I push back by setting my own standards, curating my image, naming my boundaries, charging my worth, and showing up as my full, authentic self. I refuse to shrink into someone else’s fantasy of what a Black escort should be. I say Black intentionally because I genuinely reject the term “ebony.” It’s not a neutral descriptor; it’s a fetish label. “Ebony” flattens Black sex workers into a marketable stereotype. It exoticizes us, dehumanizes us, and centers whiteness by positioning Blackness as the “other.” I’ve genuinely never liked it. My work is intentional, my presentation is mine, and my existence in this space is resistance in itself.
What’s the most important thing that potential clients need to understand about you, your identity, and the experiences of Black sex workers?
That I’m often carrying more emotional labour than you realize. Black sex workers navigate racism and whorephobia in every space—online, offline, in bookings, and within the industry. Trust isn’t automatic; it’s earned. Don’t expect access to me without first doing the internal work to unpack your biases. Respect isn’t optional. It’s the bare minimum.
Are there any advocacy groups or charitable organizations that you'd like to give a shout-out to?
Intimate Access Vancouver, Island Peers Victoria, SWAN Vancouver, Maggie’s Toronto. Each of these groups provides crucial support, advocacy, and resources to sex workers across Canada. Please consider following and sharing their social media pages and if you’re able, donate what you can, as often as you can. Consistent support makes a real difference.
Is there a book, blog, poem, artwork, tv show, or movie that has had a major impact on your life?
The rap duo Atmosphere has had a profound impact on my life since I was 14 years old. IFYKYK. I must also pay much respect to Jessie Reyez. Without her music I wouldn’t have healed such a deep first heart ache. Also, John Carpenters' movie They Live is one of my all time favourites. I love the way the movie blends sci-fi with sharp political commentary. It’s anti-establishment, visually striking and ahead of its time. Every time I watch it, which is annually, I’m reminded how media and power keep folks asleep and how sadly we need to wake up.
Do you have any special interests or hobbies you’d like to share? What do you get up to when you aren’t working?
When I’m not working I am either at Pilates, yoga, attempting to improve my uke skills, reading, indulging in a colouring book, buying–or more accurately window shopping–houseplants, or dancing.
Self care is vital! What’s your favorite way to relax and recharge after a long week?
I get a mental reset from cleaning my entire space weekly–typically on Sundays. Then I’ll take a nice bath and do a face mask the same evening. Lastly, but most importantly, I check in with my spiritual altar, that recharges my soul and keeps me connected to my ancestors.
My favourite album is: God Loves Ugly by Atmosphere.
My greatest turn-on is: Money.
A social cause I care about is: The stigma faced by sex workers and police brutality. Especially how both impact marginalized communities like mine.
My favourite everyday pleasure is …a slow morning with good coffee, deep stretching, conscious breathing, my phone on do-not-disturb, and absolutely no rush.
My favourite food is: The Caribbean in me wants to say Buss Up Shut and Curry Goat however I’ll go for something more commonly known like pan seared halibut with fresh dill and potato fondant.
Want to meet Victoria escort Jayla Quinn in person?
Head over to her profile! 👇👇👇
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