In an industry always hungry for the next big thing, Cherry Kiss isn’t just waiting for it to happen—she’s making it happen. Fresh off her win as the 2024 AVN International Female Performer of the Year, the Serbian powerhouse is tackling one of the industry’s most talked-about challenges: finding and nurturing new male talent. Her solution? A hands-on, no-holds-barred series on OnlyFans called “Cherry’s Boot Camp.”
Scouting the Next Generation
Let’s be real: breaking into the adult business as a male performer is notoriously tough. Cherry Kiss gets it, and she’s decided to use her platform to open the door for a new wave of studs. It’s a project born from a clear need she’s observed from her unique vantage point as both a top-tier performer and a seasoned director.
“The young guys don’t have the opportunity to enter the industry so much because a normal director don’t want to risk—because it’s big money,” Kiss explains simply.
Her boot camp is a full-on trial by fire. Hopefuls are screened, tested, and then put to the ultimate test: a live scene with Cherry herself, who directs and records the entire process. “And then I will see if they struggle or if they’re doing good,” she says. “Or if they’re scared, I will explain to them and give them a chance and then we continue again. … I’m already working on it.”
From Performer to Powerhouse Director
If anyone has the credentials to run this kind of operation, it’s Cherry. With a staggering 1,400+ scenes in her 14-year career, she’s now channeling that experience into a burgeoning directing career. This isn’t a new hobby; she’s been calling the shots for five years, helming projects for industry giants like Evil Angel, Private, LifeSelector, and MetArt’s SexArt. Her move fits perfectly into a broader industry trend where creators are leveraging fan-centric platforms to gain full creative control.
Evil Angel founder John Stagliano, who gave Cherry her first directing gig, saw her potential early on.
“Cherry was always a favorite of mine as a performer,” Stagliano tells AVN. “And her filmmaking was special. She understands the unexpected.”
That vision is praised across the board. “Her reputation as a performer is stellar, but what drew us to her as a director was her clear creative vision,” says Jonathan Krogman of MetArt/SexArt, who brought her on board right after her big AVN win. Kim Parker at LifeSelector agrees, adding, “She’s always on top of things, a great communicator… and incredibly hard-working. I just hope she finds more time to sleep–she’s practically running 24/7.”
The Serbian Spark That Ignited a Career
Cherry’s incredible drive was forged long before she landed in Los Angeles. Growing up in Niš, Serbia, she worked from the age of 14 to support her family, earning degrees in nursing and economics while juggling odd jobs. When she entered the adult industry, she didn’t just perform; she became a public defender of her profession on national television in Serbia, a country that she says “wasn’t ready.”
Her best friend, Christina, remembers the early days vividly.
“When she first entered the adult industry and people in Serbia found out, it was chaos,” Christina recalls. “They judged. They whispered. Some even avoided her. But she held her head high… She reminded people that dignity doesn’t come from the job you do, but the way you live your truth.”
That resilience paid off. Today, Christina says, “the story has flipped. Everyone wants to be near her. She’s the most recognized name in her field in Serbia.”
This “mind made of steel” and “heart made of gold” is what friends and colleagues point to as the source of her success. As Cherry puts it, her grandmother taught her a core principle: “to never give up.”
“Mindset is everything,” Kiss says. “To have that strong mind. Because this is the entertainment business, a very, very tough business to keep going… You need to be a true lover as well. What I always say is true lover means that you need to enjoy what you’re doing.”
An Irresistible Force in Porn Valley
Since moving to L.A. two and a half years ago, Cherry’s energy has been magnetic. Fellow performers and directors are in awe of her work ethic and passion.
“Cherry is a force of nature,” says AVN Hall of Fame director Mike Quasar. “She operates under some form of propulsion that’s heretofore unknown to man. She’s just built differently.”
Vince Karter, the reigning AVN Male Performer of the Year, credits Cherry with pushing him to build his own career.
“She trust me and believe in me and push me to where I am now. If I am here, it’s because of her,” Karter says. “Her charisma when she is on set, I think there is nobody else in the industry like her. She is super magnetic.”
Italian star Christian Clay, the current AVN International Male Performer of the Year, has known her since the start of her career. “She was beautiful and super shy… She isn’t like that anymore—I mean shy—but she still is so beautiful,” he says. “She is super crazy, but we love her also for that. She is very nice and real.”
What’s Next? The Director of the Year Trophy
While she’s thriving in front of the camera and enjoying her status as a top performer, her eyes are set on the next prize. With her directing projects gaining momentum and her boot camp generating buzz, Cherry is just getting started.
The recent AVN Adult Entertainment Expo, where her face was plastered on billboards and taxis, was a full-circle moment. Having her family’s support now means everything. “Having the support for maybe the first time from my parents—they truly respect this business and I see that, I feel that—it changes a lot for me,” she shares emotionally.
She’s achieved one dream, but another is already in her sights.
“My dream is to be the [AVN Female Performer of the Year]. And I’m so proud that now my family will be proud of my awards—finally! But then I will go for the Director of the Year one day. It makes me feel really good to be successful… I care too much because I really love this.”
With her unstoppable energy and a passion that infects everyone she works with, it feels less like a question of *if* Cherry Kiss will conquer her next goal, and more a question of *when*. You can follow her journey on social media like X at @cherrykissx.
* Photo from avn.com
