Interview: Natalie Banks Discusses Life as a Legal Sex Worker
Natalie Banks is an in-demand legal sex worker at the Desert Rose brothel in Elko, Nevada. She’s also one of the few women in her industry to host her own YouTube channel. One dedicated to her carrer where she regularly deep dives into the in’s and out’s of brothels and legal sex work. She’s learned a lot over the course of her career and shares her experiences in a no nonsense/no bullshit way. Her discussion of brothel life and answering viewer questions as well as her sense of humor is infectious.
While some of her pearl clutching critics may claim that what Banks does for a living is offensive, dirty and cheap, the blonde maven is quick to point out that what she provides is a luxury service to clients from all walks of life. It’s a job that to some is considered taboo but it’s also a lucrative one that regularly pays Banks more a six-figure salary every year.
I recently spoke with Natalie Banks about her legal sex work, YouTube channel and more in this exclusive new interview.
What inspired you to start a YouTube channel?
Natalie Banks: I used to be an independent escort and couldn’t find any information on Nevada brothels, and anything I did see was just people promoting themselves as “I’m very hot,” or “I’m very sexual.” You can’t get any real information out of that.
Outside of the sex, what do you enjoy most about your job as a legal sex worker?
Banks: This may sound crazy but for me, it’s actually the thrill of the chase. When you work at a regular job you have no control over your destiny. If you go out of your way and do a really good job at work one day, you’re still going to get paid the same hourly amount as if you had just shown up. With sex work, I really like being able to see the results of what I’m doing in real time.
Having said that, what do you find to be the most challenging part?
Banks: Stigma. I don’t really care about what people think of me personally, but they’ve kind of made it legal to be stigmatizing towards sex workers in regards to things like banks, landlords and child custody. There are so many things where we [sex workers] don’t have basic rights.
The other thing is people think that sex workers are broken people. They believe we don’t have other options or, as girls, can’t get a real job or that we’re in desperate circumstances. But that’s just not true. Some of the most motivated, smart, educated people I know have been sex workers. I’ve worked with people who were in med school, were about to become lawyers, cops, teachers. Just regular people.
What are your thoughts on people who clutch their pearls about what you do but secretly enjoy things like porn?
Banks: I think most people engage with sex work in some shape or form whether they want to admit it or not. I’ve been with clients from every walk of life and have found that (especially with the men) the louder they are about clutching their pearls the more f#cked up shit they like to do behind the scenes.
What’s a typical day like for you?
Banks: In order to make the money you need to be there as much as possible. So I usually work six days a week and our shift is usually from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m.. When I get home, I’ll sleep for a few hours and the rest of the day revolves around doing errands, cleaning my place, feeding my cats and rushing to be back there in time for opening. Sometimes it’s a mad rush to hurry up and wait because we’re there for twelve hours.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned about yourself, either through sex work or life in general?
Banks: I’ve learned to hold boundaries no matter how petty the reason. Boundaries are valid and it’s ok to enforce them. I used to be more passive and try to be agreeable with people but I quickly learned that holding and maintaining boundaries always pays out, and sometimes it’s also good to be a bitch [laughs].
How did you get involved in sex work?
Banks: Weirdly enough, a lot of the girls I’ve talked to all say the same thing — we always knew we were going to be strippers. I was a teen mom and used to be a nurse’s aide at a place where they treated everyone like shit. I wound up quitting because I was really upset about it and then started dancing. It was there where the progression of being a prostitute began.
Is it a lucrative career?
Banks: It varies, widely. In 2021 I made six figures independently escorting. In 2022 I also made six figures escorting.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
Banks: I would like to embrace my future GILF, because I see some older ladies who are making big money. I recently met a lady who was 71, still dancing and making a lot of money. I think I would like to do that part time. I know I definitely wouldn’t want to advance into a managing position in sex work because them hoes are unmanageable, and I wouldn’t want to have to deal with it [laughs].