“And the winner is… the beautiful MariskaX.com!” On October 22, 2020, those words rang out, and I realized one of my greatest achievements since starting my career in the adult industry: the XBIZ Europa Award for Performer Site of the Year. How did I, a girl from Brazil who got a later start than most in this business, end up here? Is this something anyone can do? Perhaps a glimpse into my background and a little walk along the path of my journey will shed some light on both questions.
I always had a love of the camera and felt so sexy and true to who I was when in front of it. People often told me that I should try modeling because I would be a natural at it. But, believe it or not, I have a bit of a shy side, so it took some time to convince myself.
If you sincerely enjoy what you do, believe in yourself and find ways to push yourself to be even better; the accolades and fulfillment will naturally follow.
When I was 24 years old, an opportunity came along for me to do some bikini and lingerie modeling. I nervously jumped at the chance knowing that it was something I really wanted to do but scared that I would be terrible at it or, worse, discover I was not fond of it at all. Much to my delight, I loved it and realized I did have a talent.
One day I met a photographer that suggested I should try nude modeling. Being the exhibitionist that I had now become, I thought it was a great idea and a perfect way to advance my career and have more success. I didn’t dive right in, though. I took things slowly, starting with topless photos and artistic nudes. When working with the right photographers, I would push the erotic envelope a bit with open leg poses or using a toy as a prop.
The people that saw the pictures of me enjoyed them so much that they wanted to see more. Much more. I quickly began to be in demand for more porn style-related shoots, which included some small movie scenes, and decided to go for it. That is when the last puzzle piece clicked into place, and I knew I had found my calling.
In 2008, I moved to Belgium to focus more on porn and performing. After shooting one of my first, let’s say, “real” porn scenes for Freddie’s World, I was at a fair in Berlin and saw he had used a photo of my ass as the movie cover. I was thrilled!
I continued to perform but realized that I wanted to do more. From working with producers, I knew that the online paysite side of the business was a big opportunity to have a direct contact to my fans and maximize my earning potential. I hired a webmaster to build my site and although neither of us knew much about how to market it, I finally had my very own site where I could produce and sell directly to my fans. It was an exciting time.
For the next few years, I dabbled a bit in production work. I finally decided if I was going to do this, I was going to go big or go home. So, in 2012, I made the decision to start producing my own movies, and Mariska X Productions was born. I looked to television for my launch plans, as there were no active producers anymore in Belgium, and just like that, I landed my first big contract.
I was having success in Europe with broadcasting, but my site wasn’t doing as well. I knew I needed some help, and it was then that I heard about YourPaysitePartner/Stunner Media. I met with Erik Bellavance and in just a few days, we had a plan in place for them to re-design and manage my website, plus handle my DVD distributions worldwide. I felt confident that I was in good hands and they would be applying all their expert experience and knowledge to work in my favor.
Things weren’t always as simple as obtaining that first contract, though, and I learned that earning respect and being taken seriously as a female producer in a “man’s world” was going to take some thick skin. I heard more than once, “Don’t worry. She will be gone in a year.” I never gave up, though, and look where I am now!
The path I took to get where I am today has not always been easy. There has been a lot of hard work and trusting myself to make the right decisions. As a model and performer, I started with nothing but a desire to be in front of a camera. Working for big labels such as Marc Dorcel, I had to learn how to read and speak different languages so I could understand my scripts. And I did it and have gone on to be a well-known lead actress.
As a producer, I started with only a desire to be behind the camera, and in a short time, I learned how to handle a camera, edit and professionally manage shoots. I became a household name in Belgium, with my movies now being broadcast and distributed on Telenet, Belgacom and BETV as well as in the Netherlands on KPN, Tele2, Ziggo and Passion XXX. My movies are also shown in Germany on Sky Channel, Blue Movie, Deutsche Telekom, TMC and Nightclub, and in France, they are shown on Orange, Colmax TV and Dorcel Vision.
My dreams and aspirations haven’t stopped there. In the future, I hope to see my company grow and my label expand. As a performer, my ambition is to end a successful career shooting in the U.S. As a producer, producing for big labels like Brazzers or Digital Playground would be divine.
Does it matter where, when or how you start your own journey in the adult entertainment industry? I honestly don’t think so. Think about what you love to do and find a way to do it. Stay true to yourself. Don’t compromise your beliefs just to chase a few more dollars, and never let the haters and naysayers bring you down. If you sincerely enjoy what you do, believe in yourself, and find ways to push yourself to be even better, the accolades and fulfillment will naturally follow. The best part? You won’t hate yourself for how you got there.
There is no exact formula, no perfect checklist on how to succeed. However, sometimes, finding a visible footpath and heading in that direction can lead you to someplace extraordinary.
