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Inside the secret life of a sex worker

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In the suburbs of Toronto, Mia Miranda was born into a family of businesspeople.

From a young age, her entrepreneur parents instilled a sense of hustle into their daughter.

As such, it was no surprise when she enrolled in business school before shifting to Vancouver to explore a life of pleasure, art and creativity.

The move allowed her to develop skills in acting, singing, dancing, piano and gymnastics.

Soon afterwards, she found work as a feature dancer at nightclubs across British Columbia, and as an astrology reader while attending the Vancouver Film School to further her career ambitions.

But her creative passions and big hopes for the future came to a grinding halt in 2020.

Mia Miranda had been in a serious car accident, which left her with a brain injury.

“Recovering from my injury is a full-time job, sometimes with managing symptoms and all the therapies I do,” she said.

Unable to work, her career took another unexpected turn when she begun making content for OnlyFans.

It didn’t take long before she found herself in the top 4 per cent of earners worldwide.

“During that time, like many of us, I did a lot of self-exploration and came to realise that the best story I can tell right now is my own,” she said.

“Sex work is how I fund my passions and has allowed me to become real passionate about activism as well.”

The subscription-based platform has 170 million registered users, or ‘fans’, around the world.

The platform also boasts over 1.5 million content creators, like Mia Miranda, who takes requests and shares her life online.

“Now that I am fighting to get back to a normal life, it needs to be a life I am obsessed with.”

MIA MIRANDA, ONLYFANS CREATOR

“I love making custom videos and indulging in their fantasies,” Miranda said.

While OnlyFans is not all about sex, leaked documents from the company’s financial information believes sex sells.

How many people are watching porn?

The porn industry saw increased growth during the pandemic. According to popular website Pornhub, the average age of visitors is 37 years old.

Sunday is the most popular day for porn-viewing, and Friday typically records a drop in viewers.

Professor Jessie Ford is a sex sociologist at Columbia University, who said viewing habits are connected to the rhythms in people’s social lives.

“People often think about sex and porn as a biologically driven realm of life, but I argue that it’s much more like other aspects of social life than people might think.”

PROFESSOR JESSIE FORD, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

“People are watching less on Friday, Saturday, Sunday because they are probably out doing other things,” she said.

Meanwhile, more viewers have become interested in transgender porn, with the category recording a 23 per cent jump in 2021.

Luna Matatas is a sex pleasure educator, who said it is time the adult entertainment industry began reflecting society.

“The trans community has been prominent in advocating for their rights and representation across the world and showing up more in mainstream media, so we’re hearing more and seeing more about trans people and trans communities,” they said.

The United States, Britain and Japan were the top three countries for porn traffic.

Dr Laurie Betito is a clinical psychologist, who believes human connection became more important as people were locked down to control to spread of Covid-19.

“Many people have experienced loneliness and isolation and may be craving love, intimacy and romance. So the next best thing to a partner it seems, are the fantasies of romance,” she said.

South American markets like Mexico and Columbia were among those, which recorded increased visitors during the height of Covid lockdowns.

However, like most industries, viewing habits change when other events take place.

For example, when the three-hour broadcast of the Eurovision Song Content took place in 2021, Pornhub’s traffic dropped throughout much of Europe. Malta and Iceland reported the biggest traffic drops by nearly one-third.

Likewise, viewers dropped by 21 per cent during Super Bowl 55.

Is sex work the best job ever?

Samantha Jones is a former equestrian and exotic dancer, who has appeared in Playboy Croatia and Hustler magazines.

She is also a top draw on OnlyFans and Streamate, where she offers online companionship through live camera performances.

“I’m actually surprised how many people are open about doing sex work. It’s best job ever, you can work one or three hours a day if you want,” she said.

As demand for intimate content soars online, so too does the interest from budding entertainers.

But Ms Jones said the industry has become a saturated market with a lot of competition.

“I find that the people who do really well really love what they do, so if they’re willing to invest the time, the money and the effort—go all out on photo shoots, invest in the outfits, choreography, mentors.”

Samantha Jones brings fantasies to life on OnlyFans.

Likewise, Mia Miranda describes herself as a ‘pleasure advocate’, who is seeking to change the stigma often linked with sex workers.

When it comes to earnings, she said there are still misconceptions around sex work being viewed through a get rich, quick scheme.

“You can make a lot of money at it, but it’s still incredibly hard work; it’s not just easy money, it’s fast money, so you’re able to make a lot of money fast, but only if you are putting in that hard work.”

Miranda supports the Canadian charity, WISH, which supports street-based sex workers’ health and safety.

A recent Australian study conducted interviews with 31 sex workers. It found the stigma surrounding their profession had a significant impact on their mental health.

The findings pointed to increased training and development for mental health practitioners, and increased funding for support services to protect sex workers.

Ms Miranda said the stigma is “starting to unravel itself,” because of how much time OnlyFans models put into their work.

Meanwhile, Samantha Jones said she has not experienced much of this negativity in her experience.

“The sex workers I feel are kind of putting this old stigma on themselves. I’m very comfortable, I show my face, I’m kind of out there. But I think the stigma is dying off… I think it’s going to help me in the end that I am a YouTuber-slash-porn star.”

“You have to really sit down and have your ‘hell no, hell yes’ list… ‘what am I going to do for this amount, what am I going to do for that amount?”

Mia Miranda still practices the piano and hopes to kickstart her creativity and songwriting ambitions.

“It’s my dream to perform my songs live and tour the world with my music.”

“I found that some traditional avenues of performance honestly didn’t really allow me to express my full self, but I found that being a sex worker.”

Mia MIRANDA, ONLYFANS CREATOR

“It’s been really incredible to get to experience that and showcase all of my talents and skills in a way that I have full control over. I get to be in control of everything, and I think that really inspires me to keep pushing through,” she said.

Costa is a news producer at ticker NEWS. He has previously worked as a regional journalist at the Southern Highlands Express newspaper. He also has several years' experience in the fire and emergency services sector, where he has worked with researchers, policymakers and local communities. He has also worked at the Seven Network during their Olympic Games coverage and in the ABC Melbourne newsroom. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Professional), with expertise in journalism, politics and international relations. His other interests include colonial legacies in the Pacific, counter-terrorism, aviation and travel.

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Inflation rise reduces chances of Reserve Bank rate cut

Inflation spikes, drastically reducing chances of a Reserve Bank rate cut amid economic pressures and rising costs

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Inflation spikes, drastically reducing chances of a Reserve Bank rate cut amid economic pressures and rising costs

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In Short:
– Rate cut likelihood by the Reserve Bank has decreased due to a rise in annual inflation to 3.2 per cent.
– Significant price increases in housing, recreation, and transport are raising concerns for the Reserve Bank.

The likelihood of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank has decreased significantly after a surge in annual inflation.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that inflation for the year ending September rose to 3.2 per cent, reflecting a 1.1 per cent increase.

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Trimmed mean inflation, a crucial measure for the Reserve Bank, was recorded at 1 per cent for the quarter and 3 per cent for the year. The bank anticipates inflation to reach 3 per cent by year-end, while trimmed mean inflation is expected to slightly decrease.

The quarterly rise of 1.3 per cent in September exceeded expectations. Governor Bullock noted that a deviation from the Reserve Bank’s projections could have material implications.

Financial markets reacted promptly, with the Australian dollar rising against the US dollar, while the ASX200 index fell.

The most significant price increases were observed in housing, recreation, and transport, indicating widespread price pressures that concern the Reserve Bank.

Despite the unexpected inflation rise, some economists believe the Reserve Bank may still consider rate cuts in December, viewing current price spikes as temporary due to the winding back of subsidies.

Economic Pressures

Broad-based economic pressures suggest that the Reserve Bank may not reduce interest rates at its upcoming meeting. Analysts highlight the need for ongoing support for households facing cost-of-living challenges.


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Wall Street hits record highs on low inflation

Wall Street hits record highs on cool inflation and strong earnings ahead of key Federal Reserve interest rate decision

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Wall Street hits record highs on cool inflation and strong earnings ahead of key Federal Reserve interest rate decision

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In Short:
– U.S. stocks rose to record highs on Friday due to lower inflation and strong corporate earnings.
– Key earnings reports from major companies are expected next week, influencing market trends.
U.S. stocks rose to record highs on Friday due to lower-than-expected inflation data and positive corporate earnings.The S&P 500 and Nasdaq achieved their largest weekly gains since August. The Dow saw its biggest jump from Friday to Friday since June.

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The Labor Department reported that the Consumer Price Index was slightly cooler than analysts’ predictions, easing concerns about inflation impacts from tariffs. This development suggests a likely interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve at its upcoming meeting.

Ryan Detrick from Carson Group noted the positive inflation news may facilitate forthcoming Fed rate cuts. Despite the ongoing government shutdown affecting data releases, this CPI report provided much-needed clarity.

Earnings reports are continuing, with 143 S&P 500 companies having reported results. Growth expectations for third-quarter earnings have risen to 10.4%. Detrick indicated a strong opening to the earnings season with a significant percentage of companies exceeding expectations.

This coming week, key earnings will be reported from Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Apple, alongside industrial companies like Caterpillar and Boeing.

The Dow rose 472.51 points to 47,207.12. The S&P 500 increased by 53.25 points to 6,791.69, while the Nasdaq gained 263.07 points, reaching 23,204.87.

Alphabet gained 2.7% following a deal expansion with Anthropic. Coinbase saw a 9.8% increase from a JPMorgan upgrade. In contrast, Deckers Outdoor’s shares fell 15.2% after lowering sales forecasts.

Market Trends

Advancing stocks on the NYSE outnumbered decliners by 2.18 to 1. The S&P 500 had 34 new highs, with the Nasdaq recording 124.

Trading volume was 19.04 billion shares, lower than the average of the past 20 days.


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US stocks face tests from Tesla, Netflix earnings

US markets brace for Tesla and Netflix earnings amid rising volatility and delayed inflation data

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US markets brace for Tesla and Netflix earnings amid rising volatility and delayed inflation data

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In Short:
– Earnings reports from Tesla and Netflix might affect U.S. stock performance next week amid high inflation concerns.
– Increased market volatility arises from U.S.-China trade tensions and fewer S&P 500 stocks in an uptrend.
This coming week, earnings reports from companies including Tesla and Netflix are anticipated to impact U.S. stock performance.
Investors are also awaiting delayed U.S. inflation data, which could test market stability as it remains near record highs.Recent trading activity has shown increased volatility, influenced by ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions and concerns regarding regional bank credit risks. The CBOE volatility index has seen a rise, indicating increased market uncertainty.

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The S&P 500 entered its fourth year of growth amidst these fluctuations, having previously experienced a period of calm. Experts suggest market risks are intensifying as valuations reach peak levels.

Market Volatility

Concerns regarding U.S.-China trade relations escalated last week when the U.S. threatened to raise tariffs by November 1 over China’s rare-earth export policies. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with President Xi Jinping in two weeks to discuss these issues.

Despite these challenges, major stock indexes gained ground over the week, with the S&P 500 up 13.3% year-to-date. However, a noticeable decline in the number of S&P 500 stocks in an uptrend raises caution among investors about underlying market weaknesses.

The upcoming third-quarter earnings will be closely monitored, especially as the government shutdown halts economic data releases. Companies like Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, RTX, and IBM are due to report. The delayed U.S. consumer price index is also expected to provide crucial insights ahead of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy meeting on October 28-29.


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