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Ava Ramone Interview

From Sunday, April 17, 2005. She's burned out on posing for free pictures from the hordes of photographers at Nughty Talent Agency's Open House.

She sips a beer while we talk in sun.

Ramone grew up in Portland.

Duke: "When you were a girl, what did you want to be when you grew up?"

Ava: "I wanted to be a doctor. I went to college, I thought I wanted to be in the peace corp. I was really into the environment. Then I graduated [with a degree in International Relations] and I decided I wanted to do something fun. I never intended to get into porn. This was never my dream.

"I started out modeling. I guess I always wanted to model but porn is more lucrative and mainstream modeling is harder to get into."

Duke: "What expectations were you raised with?"

Ava: "My parents always expected me to go to college and have a career. They just wanted me to be happy in whatever I decided. To go get my masters [degree] and do something professional."

Duke: "Were you a good student in highschool?"

Ava: "I was pretty good. I was in honors classes. I got decent grades in college. I ended up going to grad school. I was there for two semesters. I got straight As. I was going to school to be a teacher. Then I dropped out."

Duke: "What kind of crowd did you hang out with in highschool?"

Ava: "The stoner - hippy crowd. I was really into nature, saving the environment. I made my own clothes."

Duke: "What happened to you in grad school?"

Ava: "I was studying to be an elementary school teacher and I just realized that I didn't want to spend the rest of my life in the classroom. The kids were out-of-control, hyperactive. Parents are horrible these days.

"I worked an office job [in Portland] for two years, 40-hours a week, 9-5. I wasn't happy doing that. I wasn't making [good] money either. I got transferred down here. Six months later, I started doing porn.

"I started out doing bikini modeling. I was on this modeling website. I got contacted to do a nude photoshoot. At the time I thought, 'Wow, that's a lot of money. I'll just do this one photoshoot. A thousand bucks. Solo routine stuff. Someone I went to school with found out and told my parents. My ex-boyfriend found out. I did a couple more solo things.

"My agent, LADirectModels, told me that I could be making $20,000 a month and set my own hours. That was attractive to me. I hated getting up early and fighting the traffic. I had a horrible boss.

"I just did it. I quit my job. It was a year ago. I started out doing just girls. Then I wanted more money."

Duke: "Did they push you to do anal?"

Ava: "Yeah, they did. My original agent pushed me: 'You've got to do anal.' When you first start, you don't know anything about the business. So you believe that your agent knows best and is telling you the truth, when really, they only have their own best interests in mind.

"I didn't want to do it. I don't enjoy it. I'm thinking about doing my first anal scene. If I get a good offer."

Duke: "Have you done it in your private life?"

Ava: "I have done it a couple of times. I had this one boyfriend I did it with a few times. But it's a lot different doing it on set. They're a lot more aggressive. It's a longer duration. I don't think it's really that comfortable."

Duke: "What's your ethnicity?"

Ava: "I'm Spanish and Italian. I do a lot of Latina movies."

Ramone says she has 30 movies out.

"I would never date male talent because most of the male talent I've met, they're just not attractive to me. Porn is not my life. For a lot of people, it's their social life. They're really into it. I have girlfriends in the industry. You want girlfriends who can relate to you. My regular friends respect me for who I am but I don't talk to them about it. They can't relate.

"I'm not interested in getting into a serious relationship now. When I first started, I had a boyfriend. I told him I was only going to do girls. After a month, he said, 'I don't even want you doing girls anymore.' When he found out I was doing boys, he broke up with me. A week later, he called me. 'I want to get back together. I don't mind.' But I don't want somebody controlling me."

Duke: "How do your friends not in the industry relate to you working in porn?"

Ava: "They respect me for it because I'm taking care of myself. Nobody else is taking care of me. They know that I make a lot of money.

"A lot of people are really self-conscious. To them, being on set with 20 people watching you, is inconceivable. I think they admire me. They think I have balls. They never judge me. They see me as who I am.

"Guys are a different story. If I go out to clubs, if I'm drunk... Yeah, I'm a porn star. Sometimes I will just say it because I don't care. Guys just totally see you differently. They think, 'Wow, this isn't girlfriend material.' Which I can totally understand. If I was a regular person, I wouldn't want to date someone in the industry.

"Eventually, I do want to settle down and get married and have a normal life."

She makes a short laugh. "I think my life is normal. At least I'm happy. I think that's the most important thing whatever you do. I love being self-employed and doing what I want."

Duke: "What's the primary attraction? The money? Sex?"

Ava: "Primarily the sex. I'm not saying I'm attracted to the other talent all of the time or none of the time. I'm just really picky. Most of the guys aren't good looking. They have big cocks and they can perform. The girls are all attractive. I think it's primarily the money. I do like attention. I love being in front of the camera."

Duke: "Anything else you love about the industry or hate?"

Ava: "I hate that they don't use condoms. That's my main thing. That there's no union for talent. Girls get in the industry and they get screwed over. They're told they have to do anal and double anal. When you first get in, nobody tells you how it is. People tell you their opinion. They tell you what they want you to do.

"Our rate should be higher. Everybody and their mother wants to have their own production company. They want to shoot stuff for the least amount possible."

Duke: "How has your time in the industry affected you?"

Ava: "It's made me more confident. It's made me more streetwise because you have to take care of yourself. You are your only advocate. You have to not let it affect you. Society sees you as a whore. You have to not internalize that. It's made me a stronger person. More independent. I take care of myself. I don't have to call my parents for money. It's been a good thing overall. It's made me a little jaded, as far as relationships."

Duke: "How has it affected your personal sex life?"

Ava: "I haven't had a serious relationship. I miss having a steady boyfriend. I just go out with my friends a lot. If I meet guys that I like, I might see them a couple of times but usually it doesn't turn into anything. You don't want to lie to someone. If you're young and single in LA, it's not easy finding a relationship. Everybody wants to get out there and upgrade. The guys are in a candy shop. There are gorgeous girls everywhere. They don't want to settle down unless you go for older guys."

Duke: "What type of man are you seeking?"

Ava: "I like pretty boys. Actor-model types. I don't want that personality. Guys who are confident and a bit cocky. I like a challenge. Someone I'm sexually attracted to."

Duke: "How would your best friends describe you?"

Ava: "As a wild party girl. They'd say I'm fun. I'm loyal. Gabby might say something else. We've had our issues. You've just got to accept people for who they are. I don't know where I was going with that."

Duke: "Any deep dark insights that your friends might have?"

Ava: "If you really wanted to ask Gabby, she might tell you. We've spent a lot of time together. You think people see you in a good light, but maybe not."