Most people would kill for a high-paying job on Wall Street, but Alexis James isn’t most people. After five years of selling mutual funds and navigating rocky markets, she cashed in her “Sex and the City” dream for a reality that was far more fulfilling: becoming a full-time adult performer. And she has zero regrets.
The Golden Handcuffs
Fresh out of college, James dove headfirst into the world of finance. She was successful, making what she calls “great money,” but the cost was immense. The glamour she envisioned was quickly replaced by crushing stress and an all-consuming schedule.
“My dream was to live in Manhattan and have that whole ‘Sex in the City’ life, but I was working from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.—constantly stressed. I could barely eat. My friends were noticing it, and my boyfriend. I just wasn’t myself.”
The pressure was relentless. James recalls the anxiety of managing other people’s money, especially during market downturns. “The minute they lose a dollar, you’re getting harassed,” she told AVN. The breaking point came when she realized the money wasn’t worth the misery. “I was, like, I’d rather do something I love.”
A Pandemic Pivot to Porn
Like many people, James found herself with extra time during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s when she discovered OnlyFans and saw an opportunity to explore a lifelong fascination. This move mirrors a major industry trend where creator-owned platforms have become a primary launchpad for new talent, allowing them to connect directly with fans and control their own content before stepping onto professional sets.
“Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved being filmed and being watched. It’s like two of my kinks. And…I’m a huge porn fan. I’ve watched porn my whole life and always felt, like…I could do that.”
She started “dabbling” on OnlyFans and ManyVids, quickly building a loyal following. The positive reinforcement was all the motivation she needed. “I was, like, this makes me happy, and I want to live out my dream of it,” she said. “So, next thing I know, I had found an agent.”
Going All In
James made her official industry debut with a bang—or rather, a booking for Backroom Casting Couch that played to one of her biggest passions.
“It was an anal scene because I love anal in my personal life,” she stated plainly. “I have broken up with guys for not liking anal. It’s a part of who I am.”
Even so, she cautiously kept her finance job until after that first scene in November 2023, just in case porn wasn’t the perfect fit she imagined. But it was. The experience felt “natural” and “really good.” By June 2024, she had packed her bags, left New York behind, and moved to Los Angeles to dedicate herself to her new career, quipping, “Why did I not move out here earlier?”
Living Her Most Authentic Life
Since arriving in L.A., James, now represented by Coxxx Models, has hit the ground running. She’s already filmed a gangbang and DP for Evil Angel, taken a dozen facials for GloryHole Secrets, and is already planning her first double anal scene. Fans on social media are buzzing about her infectious energy and genuine enthusiasm, which James says comes from a place of pure authenticity.
“How I have sex is how I am in my real life,” she explained. “That’s what you see on camera, and I bring a lot of energy because that’s where I feel most alive. You can’t hide who you are when you’re having sex. That’s when people are their most authentic selves.”
For Alexis James, leaving Wall Street wasn’t just a career change—it was a life change. She swapped stock charts for scene scripts and found the one thing money could never buy.
“I love that every day is something different… for me, it’s just so fulfilling. I feel happy every day, and that was not easy in New York.”
Photography by @kogafoto
* Photo from avn.com
