Part 2 of our International Women’s Day Spotlights with Jasmine Sherni, Casey Calvert, Alex Kekesi, Bobbii Rose, and Cherie DeVille continue below. If you missed part 1, check it out here.
Jasmine Sherni
In your experience, has supporting other creators benefited you personally, as well as the wider community?
I believe it has. Supporting other creators, first and foremost, helps me create and maintain community. Being an island isn’t sustainable. It brings me so much joy when I meet creators at events and they compliment my social media or tell me something I shared helped them. I have to believe it helps benefit me in ways unseen.
How has working in the adult industry influenced your sense of identity as a queer, South Asian woman? Has it given you the agency to express yourself authentically and on your own terms?
It has helped my sense of identity immensely. I’m able to find solid ground to plant my feet and proudly claim all the facets of myself: a queer South Asian woman who is overflowing with sexual energy. My work has shown me that I get to be all of these things unapologetically.
People are going to be upset with you for all the things you do and all the things you don’t do. And guess what? None of it matters. What truly matters is being able to wake up and look at yourself in the mirror and be happy with who’s looking back at you.
Casey Calvert
How has your academic background in journalism and communications influenced your approach to both performing and directing?
More than anything else, my academic background taught me how to tell a story. Whether I'm performing or directing, I consider myself a storyteller first.
Also, in college — and this is familiar Casey lore — I took a First Amendment law class as an elective. Professor Calvert was the teacher, and in his class, I learned that porn and explicit content are protected speech under the first amendment. For many obvious reasons, that class made me who I am today.
You’re known for advocating for performer rights and sex worker visibility. What has improved over the years and what changes would you like to see in the industry to better support performers, especially women?
I could write an entire essay answering this question. To keep this brief, I’m going to discuss only the past five years.
On the positive side, platforms now exist with no ceiling on income, and performers have significantly more available autonomy and authority because of these platforms. There are a growing number of performers engaged in activism. And mainstream studios are finally focusing significant resources on health, safety, and consent (shout out to the Adult Studio Alliance).
As for what still needs to change, we still need banking and financial services that don’t discriminate against adult performers. We need less social stigma for the work that we do. And we need politicians in power who don’t suck.
You’ve spoken openly about being a feminist in the adult industry. How do you see the relationship between feminism and your work?
To me, feminism at its core is about a woman’s right to choose. Full stop. I choose to engage in sex work, thus, my sex work, whether behind or in front of the camera, is feminist.
The adult industry is obviously not monolithic, and it’s obviously not perfect. I think feminist discourse as a whole could do a better job holding two truths at the same time — we can critique the parts of the industry that could be better, we could create even safer, more ethical working conditions, and we can support and uplift the agency of women who choose to engage in it.
Alex Kekesi
How important is it for you to support other women in your field? Can you share any examples where supporting other women has led to unexpected opportunities or personal growth for you?
It’s of paramount importance to me. The majority of my team is women which is extremely rare in tech. I learn a lot from them every day and truly believe that the vastly different life experiences and perspectives that they bring to their work help us to make Pornhub better for creators. I hope it is not a secret that centering creators is a primary goal for my team and I. While there are some amazing male creators on our platform, the majority are female and I really do believe that listening to and working to actively support sex workers has not only changed my life, but has also helped us make a better and continuously improving product that helps women make more money.
You recently won the first ever Brave Voice Award at the 2026 XBIZ Exec Awards. Looking back, what achievements or moments are you most proud of when it comes to advocating for the adult entertainment industry?
I am still in a little shock about this win! It was so special to be presented with the award by Alison Boden from the Free Speech Coalition (FSC), who is someone whose resilience and prowess in her field I look up to and respect so much. While it feels incredible to be recognized for my work in this way, I would not have the capacity or ability to do any of it without my incredible team. I don’t want to put anyone on the spot, but over the years I have been lucky enough to connect with creators who I know were very critical of Pornhub in some cases quite vocally on large platforms. To see these same creators now actively using the platform to make money and advocating alongside me on issues impacting Pornhub directly as well as the wider industry and community has been very rewarding.
Bobbii Rose
How has your understanding of femininity evolved over time?
My femininity has evolved in ways that feel both intentional and natural throughout my transition. In the beginning, it was something I felt I had to consciously claim. Learning how to express myself in ways that aligned with who I’ve always known myself to be was very hard early on. Over time, though, it became less about performance and more about comfort. Transitioning allowed me to move from trying to prove my womanhood to simply living it and being completely happy.
As I became more secure in myself, I realized femininity isn’t about meeting expectations; it’s about embodiment. It’s in how I care for others, how I hold boundaries, how I express vulnerability, and how I move through the world with self-assurance.
Looking back, which moments in your journey have been most empowering for you?
I can honestly say early on I had such an incredible support group of friends and family that were all women. One woman in particular was my second mother, who basically was there for me from the beginning. She stood by my side and gave me the confidence I needed to finally pursue my transition. She taught me how to believe in myself and to love who I am no matter what.
I’d also say that my surgeries were right up there. Even though they were all on different occasions, I try to look at them as a whole, and obviously a part of my journey. I look at it like being in a cocoon and then after some nurturing and time, emerging as a beautiful butterfly.
Now that I’m mostly healed from all of my surgeries, it’s such an empowering feeling to look in the mirror and see the woman I’ve always been. What it took to get here is not something I take lightly, and I always remember the strength it required.
Cherie DeVille
You are an absolute powerhouse: industry legend, political writer with bylines in Rolling Stone, the internet’s stepmom, etc. How do you accomplish all this? Is it on your own or do you have a team behind the scenes supporting you?
I may be the face people see, but I have built a fantastic team over the past 16 years. I create, but I also work with talented collaborators who help bring my ideas to life, from my amazing creative scene partners to business and production support. The key for me has been treating my career like both an art form and a small business, which means structure, planning, and a lot of discipline behind the scenes. Honestly, the secret isn’t doing everything yourself, it’s building trust with people who believe in your vision. And being confident enough in your team to delegate when needed.
What advice would you give to women who want to advocate for sex workers but aren’t sure where to start?
Start by listening to sex workers themselves and amplifying their voices rather than speaking over them. Advocacy doesn’t have to begin with big public statements; it can be as simple as challenging stigma at a dinner party when you hear misinformation or supporting policies by reposting on your socials that prioritize safety, autonomy, and labor rights. Educating yourself about the realities of the industry goes a long way toward replacing judgment with empathy. Real change happens when people recognize sex workers as professionals and human beings deserving of respect and protection like anyone else.
Thanks for joining us for this special 2-part edition of International Women’s Day 2026. If you missed the first installment, check it out here.
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