Then the time came when my work stopped and I urgently needed to support my children. I was also divorcing for which I also needed money. I started to browse in Avize, a publication where I found an ad that called for a “private girlfriend”. At my age! So I gathered my nerve and went, that’s what I say about that! But when I got there I saw the work that was expected of me. There was an elderly lady, so I picked up my courage and on the first day, went to “work a room”. I found that it is nothing weird. After two weeks it already felt commonplace to ask for money.

Then the time came when my work stopped and I urgently needed to support my children. I was also divorcing for which I also needed money. I started to browse in Avize, a publication where I found an ad that called for a “private girlfriend”. At my age! So I gathered my nerve and went, that’s what I say about that! But when I got there I saw the work that was expected of me. There was an elderly lady, so I picked up my courage and on the first day, went to “work a room”. I found that it is nothing weird. After two weeks it already felt commonplace to ask for money. It was practically, almost the same as when I was selling coffee to someone. Except that it is clear that we gain from each other a better feeling, that I am more than that. I’m appreciated. They got what they wanted and needed and it was all mutally agreed to. I didn’t do anything I did not want to do.

You began working in sex voluntarily?
Z: Voluntarily, involuntarily, especially for the money.

Where do you work?
Z: For myself at home. At first I worked in a private establishments, where I picked up the trade, but I did not stay there. There were not always good relations with other colleagues. And I need some peace and quiet rather than annoyance and spite.

What do you do with the money they earn? Delis be with someone for profit?
Z: I pay to rent an apartment, to pay for advertisements, for the washing and routine maintenance of the flat, for sexy lingerie – those are expensive enough
items on their own ! My money also goes to pay social and health insurance. I also tried to pay taxes on my work [and contribute to a pension plan] but it is not official work, you can not do this business officially. Because of this, I must seek to ensure my own future, so that I do not have to rely on the State.

Have you had to deal with violence at work?
Z: An individual has insulted me on the internet. Although I have become accustomed to it over the years, I had to deal with it, but he knows it hurt.

I once had a customer as an escort. He paid and then he spoke to me very aggressively saying that I would pee on him or he would force me to. I felt something that could have been a knife against me. I managed to free myself from him and to escape from the apartment. This was my worst experience during work.

And what was the best?
Z: Usually normal, decent men come. They tell me that I am beautiful, that I have beautiful breasts. I keep getting praise, recognition, they send me an sms. I have beautiful experiences with these gentlemen, we chat and enjoy beautiful moments together. This is the reason that I have survived in the business for so long.

Have you worked abroad?
Z: No.

What are your experiences with the police?
Z: I have only had contact with customers. They are cool. One colleague had a bad experience with police because they caught her by asking and paying for services.

Have you ever met with a breach of your human rights or discrimination?
Z: I am not open about my profession publicly. Only certain friends know, those that I can trust. That is the case of people in this industry. Those that know what I do, do not condemn me, we continue to remain friends. They know that I am an ordinary person, I’m still the same person.

How you managed to deal with customers?
Z: Customers contact me on the phone. If they express themselves indecently or strangely, I politely decline to see them. When they come, they are not aggressive. Usually, they are rather scared of meeting new people. As I mentioned, they are mostly well-behaved.

What would you like to change about sex work?
Z: At the moment, it suits me.

What would you like to say to those who condemn sex workers?
Z: Do not judge the life you have never lived.

To read interview in Slovakian click here.