Cherry Crush is a 22 year-old erotic model, who, despite her relative success remains intent on preserving what remains of her anonymity. For the past year she’s made her living shooting and performing with her boyfriend and posting the material on her website, mycherrycrush.com. The system she represents is a new alternative, maybe even a challenge, to the dominant business model of mainstream pornography.

Interview by Shad Getz

Richardson - What made you get into pornography?

Cherry Crush - “I’m an exhibitionist and I don’t really like your typical jobs, so if I have the opportunity to make more money elsewhere, why not? I’m young and I can do it now. That’s how I look at it and I want to bring a more artistic feel to porn in general.

You make more money doing porn than you used to?

Yeah of course. I was in the beauty industry, cutting hair and selling beauty supplies on the internet.

Tell me about the first time you decided to have naked photographs taken and put them on the internet - how did that happen?

Well at that moment in time I was getting very bored of selling hair products and I figured I wanted to try a different avenue. I was searching through craigslist and something popped up about camming... and so I just sort of jumped into the industry like that.

Do you consider yourself part of the larger industry or more independent?

I don’t do porn porn. I have a website with my boyfriend, and we pretty much just make the videos and take the photos ourselves and that’s all i do. I don't want to go further into it. I’ve been talking to my boyfriend about some threesome stuff but as of right now I’m happy with where I am.

Do you have thoughts about mainstream porn?

I think that what anybody wants to do with their lives they can do but I’m not against porn or for it. I’m in the middle. I would never myself be in porn because I believe its more degrading. But I also don’t think it’s degrading. I guess I’m being hypocritical because i’m still in the porn industry but I wouldn't go as far as [other people do]. I wouldn’t want to be gangbanged for money. on the other hand, I’ve watched gangbangs before and find them interesting. I think of it more as an artistic field, if someone wants to go ahead and do that and make money for it, that’s their choice. I’m amatuer with it, I don’t want to go any further than where I’m comfortable.

Do you parents know about your website?

In the beginning when they found out, it was kind of a horrible thing. My dad was confused as to why I was locking the door and in my bedroom all the time because I was usually on the couch watching TV. It lead on from there as he got the idea i was doing something else, and then [when he found out] my dad got pissed and kicked me out and I moved into a hotel room. I still talk to my family and they’re slowly starting to understand what I’m doing, that I’m not hurting myself or anyone else, I’m not doing anything illegal. They don’t look at it in such a horrible light anymore, but they still don’t want to search me on the internet, and say: “I looked at your porn pictures today, they were great, sweetie.” It’s more like, “I’m not going to open any links, but you make your money and do what you’re going to do. just don’t involve me.” I think any parent would feel that way.

What kind of comments do you get on your blog? Anything disturbing? Encouraging?

I’ve gotten some requests to pee on my boyfriend or punch him in the balls; if anything I find it humorous. That’s part of what I like about it.

Your tumblr blog got over a million views in a week, do you think there’s a reason why you’re blowing up?

I don’t know. I have no idea, I guess it’s just what people like at the moment in time.

I feel like there are thousands of girls who’ve shot a couple porns in LA and not much came of it and they probably regret the experience. But you run your own operation and you seem like you’re doing well.

I believe It’s just what the people want. If they are interested in you they will look further. Also, if you want to be succesful you have to commit.

When you meet new people and tell them what you do, is there any judgement at all, or interest?

I lost a lot of contact with friends when I started doing this. I’m in hiding in a sense. My life changed. I got rid of a lot of people, mostly acquaintances that I mostly hid from everything. I didn’t want it getting around where I lived. I’ve gotten a couple people on my tumblr saying, “Hey, I know who you are. You can’t hide. Just really weird things people say, like they know my mom, or awkward stuff and I just ignore it.

Was it hard to get your boyfriend to do porn with you?

Lets just leave this question out ..

Do you like it?

Yeah i love my job. since i’ve started doing porn i’ve gotten a lot more healthy. i used to smoke like a chimney; i quit smoking. I’ve become a vegetarian and i’ve been going to the gym every day since I started because you have to look good to play the part. but porn really does make you feel better as a person. It makes you more healthy and more happy because you’re constantly having sex.

Are there any downsides?

The worst things that come out of it are some of the degrading things people say to you, like, “wow why don’t you go find a better job, you’re disgusting, you’re such a beautiful girl you should be in school right now.” they expect to see a girl my age doing something in a better field. You have your very straight-edge people who look at you in a different light.

Check out Cherry Crush's Site and Tumblr for more...