Leya Desantis talks life as a new pornstar: an exclusive interview

Welcome to an exclusive peek behind the curtain of the adult entertainment industry. Today, we’re sitting down with Leya Desantis, a rising star who’s making waves just six months into her career. At 22, Leya brings a refreshing blend of curiosity, confidence, and candor to her work.

From a chance encounter with industry veteran Shalina Devine at a New Year’s Eve party to her first nerve-wracking scene, Leya Desantis’ journey into adult entertainment is as unique as her stage name. She’s not just another face in the crowd; she’s a self-proclaimed proud bisexual who approaches her work with the dedication of a method actor and the enthusiasm of someone who’s found their true calling.

But what really sets Leya apart? Is it her commitment to treating every scene with equal importance, regardless of its potential for exposure? Or perhaps it’s her ability to seamlessly transition into character the moment the camera starts rolling? As we delve into Leya Desantis’ world, we’ll uncover the realities of life in front of the lens, the challenges of maintaining privacy in a public industry, and the unexpected moments of pride that come with the job.

So, buckle up and prepare for an unfiltered conversation that promises to challenge your preconceptions about the adult entertainment industry. Leya Desantis is here to share her story, and trust us, it’s one you won’t want to miss.

Model Memoir: Can you tell me a bit about yourself and how you started in the adult industry?
Leya Desantis: Sure, how should I start? I’m Leya Desantis and I’m 22 years old. I’ve been working as a porn actress for almost half a year now, and I really enjoy my work because I have the chance to be whoever I want to be. It all started with my desire for knowledge. I was sometimes watching porn at home and was struggling to understand how everything happens there, and I was really curious about it. I can’t lie—I also found some pleasure in thinking about being filmed in the most intimate moments. Everything was curiosity until I met Shalina Devine at a New Year’s Eve party that I was invited to. I recognized her, started chatting, and told her about how I’d like to become a porn actress. She introduced me to BrillBabes Models Agency, and here I am now.

Model Memoir: How did you come up with your stage name and does it have any special meaning?
Leya Desantis: To be honest, my stage name was created with Shalina’s help. She said that it should be unique and strong. We chose Leya as the first name, which has Spanish roots and is translated as “loyal” because I’m always loyal to those who helped me become the person that I am today. The last name Desantis is derived from the Latin word “sanctus” translated as “holy” and was chosen because we both thought that in life the best things come with the help of a holy miracle. For me, the miracle was being able to explore the adult industry as I wished.

Model Memoir: Were there other career paths you considered before?
Leya Desantis: I was considering medicine when I was in high school, and afterwards modeling. I ended up performing modeling in its purest form.

Model Memoir: How was your debut as an actress? Were you nervous?
Leya Desantis: “Nervous” is not the right word. I was extremely scared because I wasn’t confident enough in myself. I was frightened that I’d do something wrong or that I’d forget my lines. After I stepped into the room where I was going to have my first shoot, I just started to feel relaxed out of nowhere. I lost all my anxiety and in my and the producer’s opinion, I did a very good job for a first shoot.

Model Memoir: How did you prepare for your first scene and what advice would you give to newcomers?
Leya Desantis: Here I must thank Shalina Devine again. She showed me the main positions, taught me how to pose, how to prepare my work bag… She really is my mentor when it comes to everything related to the adult industry. My advice for newcomers is the following: Be confident, ask someone when something seems odd or you didn’t understand something, and pay all the attention you can on set. This way, everyone will be happy at the end of the day because the scene will be great. And don’t hesitate to bring as many nice clothes and shoes as you can. Everyone will appreciate your involvement.

Model Memoir: What’s your favorite part about being in the porn industry?
Leya Desantis: My favorite part about being in the porn industry is that I’m mixing usefulness with pleasure, definitely.

Model Memoir: Is there anything you don’t like and how do you handle it?
Leya Desantis: I don’t like that sometimes people are late or producers cancel shoots the day before. Some people may have had some trouble, and some people may not be educated to respect a schedule. I handle it by understanding that this is not something I can change.

Model Memoir: What’s your favorite position to perform on camera?
Leya Desantis: My favorite position is definitely doggy-style on camera and off camera as well.

Model Memoir: Are there any positions that are particularly challenging?
Leya Desantis: Of course there are. Who said that making sex and also looking sexy on camera is easy? But even if those positions are not easy to perform, I love how I look in them when I see the pictures/videos.

Model Memoir: Do you prefer filming lesbian scenes or boy/girl scenes?
Leya Desantis: It depends on the topic. If we’re talking about sex, I can’t prefer one or the other. I love having sex with a man (or more), but I’m a very convinced and proud bisexual, and I also love having sex with a woman (or more). Let’s say that I’m enthusiastic when I know that I’m going to have a boy-girl-girl scene. If we’re talking about the technical difference between how these two are shot, I prefer the lesbian scenes because most of the time it’s going to be free-style between me and the other girl(s) and everything goes much easier.

Model Memoir: What do you enjoy most about each type of scene?
Leya Desantis: I enjoy the same thing in all my scenes: I enjoy that I have the occasion to be someone else, the role that I have to play, that I’m able to create a juicy and sexy story in my mind and afterwards to make that story real in front of the camera.

Model Memoir: What’s the kinkiest request you’ve received from a client or scene partner?
Leya Desantis: Just to get this straight, I don’t receive kinky requests from my scene partners—we’re just colleagues at work and we all work based on the requests of the producers, a.k.a. our clients. The kinkiest request that I’ve received from a client was maybe when I had my first DP scene. I had never done a DP in my life before doing it for a scene.

Model Memoir: How did you handle it and what was the experience like?
Leya Desantis: I was a little bit nervous in the beginning, but it was a very great experience! I loved it, and after the scene, I decided that I wanted to do more DP scenes.

Model Memoir: How do you prepare for particularly intense or kinky scenes?
Leya Desantis: I prepare the same way I prepare for all scenes because I treat all scenes with maximum seriousness without thinking about how popular a producer is or how much exposure a scene will bring me. Everyone is treated equally.

Model Memoir: Do you have any specific routines or mental preparations?
Leya Desantis: To be honest, I don’t. I think I just love and enjoy my work enough that I don’t need any specific routine or mental preparation before going to work.

Model Memoir: What’s your favorite type of role-play or fantasy scene?
Leya Desantis: My favorite role-play is my whole work in the industry. I’m not into some role in particular—I’m into the fact that I can play a role and be a true actress.

Model Memoir: How do you get into character and what makes these scenes exciting for you?
Leya Desantis: I get into character by imagining myself as that character first. I define how I should talk, what facial expressions I should have, and when I hear “Rolling camera!” I just become that character. It’s exciting to discover that you can never play a role wrong unless you are just not made for this. Sometimes I act out of the lines, and it happens that the production likes my way better.

Model Memoir: Have you ever had a scene that involved multiple partners?
Leya Desantis: Yes, I’ve had plenty of scenes that involved multiple partners.

Model Memoir: How do you manage the dynamics in such scenes?
Leya Desantis: It all matters in the pre-work encounter. Before the scene, I get along with the other performers and we all synchronize in a way to create a lovely mood and a great dynamic so the scene will be great.

Model Memoir: Is there something that you refuse to do in a scene?
Leya Desantis: Yes, there are things that I’m not willing to do. If I don’t enjoy it physically or mentally, I’m not willing to do it. Not only could I not do it, but also because that scene would not represent me and would be bad for my image.

Model Memoir: How do you set your boundaries and have they changed over time?
Leya Desantis: I’m not doing anything specific, just the way I act and talk doesn’t leave room to negotiate my boundaries. Have they changed? Not that I recall—I’m still the same person from the beginning.

Model Memoir: What was your most challenging scene and how did you overcome it?
Leya Desantis: The most challenging scene for me was likely a scene shot for “SinfulXXX.” I was at the very beginning of my career, I wasn’t paying enough attention, and I screwed up several times during that scene. I did overcome it only because the producer and the other performers, Shalina Devine and Charlie Dean, were very patient with me—too patient, if you ask me—and in the end, we managed to finish everything.

Model Memoir: What did you learn from that experience?
Leya Desantis: From that experience, I learned that attention is the most important thing on set. Pay attention to everyone on set if you want things to go well!

Model Memoir: How do you handle the physical demands of long shooting days?
Leya Desantis: I handle all the physical demands by resting enough at night and by eating well. In my opinion, you can’t handle it if you have sleeping or eating disorders.

Model Memoir: Do you have a fitness routine that helps you stay in shape?
Leya Desantis: I didn’t have one in the beginning, but for some time now, I’ve started to put my meals in order and to follow a fitness routine so I don’t get out of shape.

Model Memoir: What’s your favorite part about interacting with your fans?
Leya Desantis: I love the attention they pay to me. It’s lovely to see that so many people support you in everything you do and that they’re so eager to see you again in a new video.

Model Memoir: How do you maintain your privacy while being a public figure in the adult industry?
Leya Desantis: Well… here is the hard part because if you don’t pay attention, someone may approach you in a weird way someday, and things may go well, but they could also go very badly, and I don’t want to take the risk of finding out who’s good or bad. That’s Santa’s job.

Model Memoir: Do you have any memorable fan interactions?
Leya Desantis: A memorable interaction is when I had a video call with one of my fans. He was so nervous because he was talking to me that he couldn’t even form a sentence. I had to do all the talking!

Model Memoir: What strategies do you use to protect your personal life?
Leya Desantis: I’m very careful about what pictures or videos I make and post publicly so that no one would be able to figure out where I live or the places I frequent. In my opinion, this is the most important thing to take care of.

Model Memoir: Have you ever faced any stigma or judgment because of your career? How did you handle it?
Leya Desantis: Of course, I’ve faced stigma. I just don’t leave room for long discussions, and if I feel attacked, I gently close the subject.

Model Memoir: What support systems do you have in place?
Leya Desantis: The best support system that I’ve put in place is actually going to work. When I arrive on set, I can talk about my problems and concerns and laugh about them with people like me—people who work in the same industry and who understand and help me with any issues I might have.

Model Memoir: What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Leya Desantis: Besides the financial part, I must admit that it’s very rewarding to see the people behind the camera happy during and after a shoot.

Model Memoir: Can you share a specific moment that made you feel particularly proud?
Leya Desantis: I was very proud after one old-young fetish scene. I had just arrived home and received a message from the agency forwarded from the producer where the producer was telling the agency that the video shot with me was probably the best video that he ever produced. Reading that message made me very proud of myself.

Model Memoir: How do you stay informed about industry trends and changes?
Leya Desantis: I just have to open my social media—there, I see everything that’s happening.

Model Memoir: Have any recent trends caught your attention?
Leya Desantis: To be honest, no, nothing caught my attention in particular.

Model Memoir: How can your fans follow you on social media?
Leya Desantis: My fans can follow me by searching “leyadesantis” on Instagram or by searching “LeyaDesantisXXX” on X/Twitter.

Model Memoir: How do you engage with your fans online and what’s your favorite platform?
Leya Desantis: Well, I’m posting there like any normal person. They engage in conversation with me, and that’s pretty much everything. X/Twitter is by far my favorite platform because of the freedom of speech.

As our conversation with Leya Desantis draws to a close, we’re left with a vivid portrait of a young woman navigating the complex world of adult entertainment with remarkable poise and self-awareness. From her thoughtful approach to privacy and boundaries to her genuine enthusiasm for her craft, Leya embodies a new generation of performers who are reshaping the industry’s narrative.

Her journey, marked by mentorship, personal growth, and a commitment to authenticity, offers a nuanced perspective on a often misunderstood profession. Leya’s candid reflections on the challenges and rewards of her work remind us that behind every scene, there’s a real person with dreams, fears, and a unique story to tell.

As Leya continues to make her mark in the industry, her experiences serve as a testament to the power of curiosity, resilience, and staying true to oneself, even in the face of societal judgment. Her story challenges us to look beyond the surface and recognize the humanity in every individual, regardless of their chosen career path.

In an industry that’s constantly evolving, voices like Leya’s are crucial in fostering understanding and breaking down stereotypes. As she moves forward in her career, one thing is clear: Leya Desantis is not just performing; she’s redefining what it means to be a professional in the adult entertainment world, one scene at a time.

Ready to take your first step into the industry? Join Leya and other talented creators today by

Signing up at BrillBabes