Lana Rhodes on eclipsing Miu Miu, the male gaze and replacing porn with fashion

From adult stars walking the catwalk Mugler, DSquared2And KNVLSTo Shane Oliver, Louis de Saint-SerninAnd cowgirl collaborating with Pornhub on XXX-rated collaborations, the worlds of fashion and porn are becoming more intertwined with each passing season. After a short stint as a porn actor, Mia Khalifa became a regular in the front row at Paris Fashion Weekvisiting various shows Louis Vuitton, Off whiteand more.

Now joining her is Lana Rhoades, who has also made a name for herself in porn, starting her professional career in the industry at the tender age of 19. However, like Khalifa, her stay in the world of adult films was short-lived, only eight months. in 2016 before she made the bold decision to leave. Despite this short tenure, Rhodes has skyrocketed to superstar status, earning the title of Pornhub’s Most Popular Actress for an impressive four years in a row, earning her a spot in the platform’s top 20 list.

However, behind the glitz and glamor lay a dark side of exploitation and mental health struggles, which prompted Rhodes to turn in a different direction and begin a new chapter in her life. Now, in addition to co-hosting a highly rated podcast 3 girls 1 kitchen, In which she and co-hosts Olivia Davis and Alexa Adams talk about food, sex, love and the complexities of modern dating, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of venturing into fashion, working with brands such as MISBHV and even walk the catwalk in Dilara Findikoglu‘s Autumn show 24 years V London Fashion Week.

Here, Rhodes talks about his career in porn, his move into fashion, and his plans for the future.

Hello Lana! So first of all, how did you get into fashion in the first place?

Lana Rhodes: I’ve always been a person who cares about my appearance, so I would say that clothes in general have always been an area of ​​interest. But perhaps over the last three years it has become an obsession. One of my biggest hobbies outside of motherhood is watching vintage fashion shows for fun, and I also love finding really cool vintage pieces while looking for different trends. When this naturally opened up career opportunities, I was very grateful. I was asked to participate in my first fashion show in 2022 and after that the requests started coming in – I worked with I.AM.GIA., Poster Girl and MISBHV on my own clothes and also collaborated with several jewelry brands. , shoe labels and much more. I couldn’t have more fun doing it.

Who are your favorite designers? Do you have any favorite works?

Lana Rhodes: Probably somewhere in the early 2000s Miu miu bags and shoes, I have a really cute coat from early Miu Miu. Miu Miu 2000-2010 was my favorite, it was playful, experimental and so girly. Miuccia Prada my favorite designer. Always. All her early works for Prada and Miu Miu – chef’s kiss. If I collect anything, it will be these.

How did your approach to identity change when you moved from the adult film industry to the fashion world?

Lana Rhodes: I wouldn’t say that my approach to my personality has changed due to career changes over the years. I was very young when I first came on stage and I’ll be 28 in September, so I think it’s just a natural evolution of figuring out who I am, getting into my own skin, figuring out what I like. and what I want to be – it was never planned, I was always sincere with myself and imagined what I liked then and like now.

I don’t do anything to intentionally dismiss people’s opinions or people’s views on my past in porn – nothing I do is for that purpose, not my haircuts, not anything I say or wear. I’ve seen comments from girls saying, “She wants to separate herself from this.” When it comes to my appearance or personality, it’s never been about that – I just truly express myself and what I like. This has nothing to do with wanting to conform to other people’s opinions or views of me.

“When you don’t please men, they’ll insult you and get mad at you for not doing what they want – they want to jerk their little sausages off to you, but you won’t let them.” – Lana Rhoades

When recent Rihanna coverings Interview When it came out that people were saying she looked demonic and didn’t look like the “old” Rihanna. The same thing happened with Julia Fox when she was no longer the same Uncut Gems the star they once knew. I noticed something similar happening in your comments on Instagram. How do you navigate this?

Lana Rhodes: I’ve noticed a huge influx not only in my own photos that I post for work, but in all the names you mentioned and many more. It has become common practice to criticize other people because of their appearance, and I will never understand it. As someone who this happens to far too often, I’d say it affects me less than other people because for the most part – and I’m not just saying this – I don’t really care what people think.

But of course, some days I might post a photo that I need to take for work, and I honestly think I look really beautiful in whatever outfit I’m wearing, and I’m proud of that photo, and I get completely scolded. It makes you wonder, “Do I look too skinny?” Too pale? Is this outfit really ugly? I want to base my opinion of myself on what I think and not on some weird people I don’t even know because I’m someone who lives with myself every day.

In real life, people come up to me and ask, “Are you a model?” You’re so beautiful, so I’m trying to find logic. Men who comment go on other women’s profiles who may or may not be more attractive than you and comment “baby, you’re so beautiful” because her ass is exposed and she is – unintentionally or not – pleasing them sexually . But when you don’t please them, they will insult you and get angry at you for not doing what they want – they want to jerk their little sausages off to you, but you won’t let them.

It breaks away from the male gaze…

Lana Rhodes: Yes, but I think male desire is a matter that goes far beyond fashion or what women choose to wear, what makeup they choose, what haircut they decide to get. I’ve been hearing more news recently and it’s scary how often women are sexually assaulted by men because they can’t control their desires – I usually wear covered clothes because I don’t know if I’ll feel comfortable going out going out in public to wear something that men find attractive because it scares the crap out of me. The male perspective is one of entitlement, and they still think they can take what they want from weaker beings.

Do you make a conscious decision to move away from the male gaze in the brands you work with and the campaigns you direct? Obviously, you’ve worked in an industry that primarily caters to men in porn, and fashion is also known for pandering to the male gaze…

Lana Rhodes: I would say that the campaigns that I have commissioned, particularly in the last year and a half, are completely contrary to what men want and what is defined as the “male gaze”. For example, in the campaign I shot last July, I had a black pixie cut with micro bangs and men didn’t like it! I think it’s common knowledge that a man’s favorite hair is long hair (that’s what I’ve been told my whole life), but I loved wearing it short. After this photo shoot, I was inspired to get baby bangs on my natural hair, which men didn’t like either.

I recently walked with Dilara, who, by the way, is a genius, at London Fashion Week. I really like that she uses Victorian era styles and the tuberculosis villain makeup was All, it ate. Again, the men didn’t like it, but I had a lot of fun! I think fashion is moving away from catering to the male gaze, especially in the last few years – from bleached eyebrows to baby bangs, the things that become popular or trending are what men really hate.

“I followed Dilara to London Fashion Week. I really like that she uses Victorian era styles and the tuberculosis villain makeup was Allit ate” – Lana Rhoades

Do you feel like you’ve regained your spotlight in the fashion world? Maybe there you’ll have more control over how you’re presented?

Lana Rhodes: I don’t think I recovered anything. I think at that time I always did what I liked, so if the way I dressed five years ago was more “male approved”, let’s say because I sincerely did what I thought , was attractive to me. So I don’t think I had anything to complain about, I’ve always been very sincere and did exactly what I want – not only when it came to my appearance, but no one will tell me what to do when it comes to my body.

What show would you like to go to in the future?

Lana Rhodes: I doubt this pipe dream has a chance of becoming a reality, but if there was any show where I would just die and go to heaven, it would be for Miu Miu. Like I said, I’m such a big fan of Miuccia’s work and working for Miu Miu, I would probably say, “Okay, I can quit modeling now because I’ve just achieved my ultimate goal.” Once again, probably an unrealistic goal, but it’s a dream!

And what are your goals for next year?

Lana Rhodes: I’d like to move into beauty modeling next year and I’m really excited to launch my own clothing called Rhoades Studio and continue to expand and become a better designer by working with other companies and working. about your things. This is what I strive for in the future – to work in the field of fashion design.