Tilly Lawless was the first young, Australian woman I followed who spoke publicly and unapologetically about her work in the sex industry. She is highly educated, articulate, and strikingly nonchalant when describing her experiences in brothels or as a private escort. Tilly has transformed her lived experience into two novels and is currently writing a third, all while continuing to work as an escort in Sydney. Although she does not identify as a sex worker advocate, her TED Talks and books have had a profound impact on sex workers and have played a significant role in educating civilians about the realities of the sex industry.

Today, we talk about the impacts of speaking publicly, the scrutiny she received, and how it ultimately led her to step back from the online world. We explore why she never wanted to be a role model, and how she was simply doing what felt right to her, and the high standards forced upon you when you gain an online following