Contrary to what most believe, adult models and actresses are like you and me… They are not the shallow, bimbo types that you’d just forget after a night… Oh, sometimes they’re actually (way) smarter. So yeah, they’re not doing what they’re doing because they can’t find any other career. Nope, that is not the case at all. They just find it more appealing… More challenging, thrilling, and of course… who wouldn’t want to get paid for doing something you love. Yup. SEX!
So from earning MBAs to PhDs to spearheading projects and movements, here are 9 of the smartest, most driven, and sometimes geekiest porn stars of all time. In no particular order.
1. AJ Bailey
This Scottish bombshell has a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and studied art at St Andrew’s. Yup, the top Scottish university attended by Prince William. And While she’s in MBA courses and hanging out with some of Prince William’s friends, she got her spread in Hustler magazine.
As for AJ Bailey‘s pastime, she enjoys reading Tolstoy, Oscar Wilde, and the likes.
“I quite like being called the world’s brainiest porn star… it is a cliche that all porn stars are airheads.”
2. TJ Hart
T.J. Hart graduated with a triple major in psychology, sociology, and art, with a minor in early childhood education from the University of Colorado.
Oh, and it’s not just her brain that is strong. You see, she’s also a member of the 1988 US Olympic swim team.
3. Shy Love
Shy Love graduated high school at only 16. Then she earned a bachelor’s degree (in Accounting) and two Master’s Degree.
After earning her first Master’s Degree in Accounting, she soon became a comptroller of a multi-national pet pharmaceutical company in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During her tenure in the said company, she found the time to take night classes to earn her second Master’s Degree in Taxation. By the age of 25, she was a certified public accountant. She now runs her own talent management agency, The VIP Connect.
4. Asia Carrera
Asia Carrera was born in New York City and studied piano as a child. She became so good at it that she performed at Carnegie Hall twice before even turning 15. Oh, and aside from her musical abilities, she also has an IQ of 156.
Asia attended Rutgers University from which she earned a full scholarship, where she double-majored in Business and Japanese. She didn’t finish that degree because she made more money at the stripping job she had back then. Oh, and also because stripping is more fun, according to her. And did we mention that she has an IQ of 156? Yeah, we did. We just want to say it again.
5. Laurie Wallace
Our second Scottish adult film actress on this list. Laurie Wallace graduated Summa Cum Laude with a double major in German and Political Science from Loyola College in Maryland. She later attended law school at George Washington University. Laurie was also an intern on a center for various think tanks and advocacy groups located in Washington D.C. called ‘K Street’.
She later moved on to modeling and then the adult industry, because that what seemed to call her. Laurie could’ve stayed a scholar or a well-connected lawyer but chose the adult career because… She’s a good human being who respects people like us.
6. Joanna Angel
She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature with a minor in Film Studies from Rutgers University. Yup, very much like Asia Carrera.
Joanne Angel does not only perform in front of the camera, but she is also a director and writer of the films she starred in. She’s also very eloquent and her writing was featured countless time in newspapers such as The New York Times. She also had a sex advice column on the music magazine Spin.
7. Lorelei Lee
She is a 2008 graduate from San Francisco State University. Afterward, she enrolled at NYU’s creative writing program.
We really look up to Lorelei Lee here… I mean we don’t know how she juggled both her adult professional career AND her grueling academic duties/schedule then.
8. Annie Sprinkle
Oh, we’ll go throwback with this one. Annie Sprinkle is the first porn star known to have earned a Ph.D.
Annie Sprinkle is an American certified sexologist, sex educator. She received a BFA in photography from the School of Visual Arts in 1986 and, in 1992, she earned a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Human Sexuality from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco.
9. Nina Hartley
Coming from Buddhist parents, Nina Hartley started working in strip clubs during her sophomore year of nursing school to support herself. She graduated Magna cum Laude (must resist to dish out a pun) from San Francisco State University’s nursing school and is a registered nurse.
Nina is also a well-known sex educator and sex-positive feminist. In fact, before Jenna Jameson’s rise to fame, Nina was the go-to eloquent, well-spoken spokesperson for the adult industry. She even guested on the Oprah Winfrey show, defending the subject in front of quite a number of angry women in the audience.
Honorable Mention: Jenna Jameson
Jenna Jameson is considered to be one of the most successful women in the adult industry. And While her academic attainment isn’t that astounding, we have to give credit to her for paving the way for porn to enter the mainstream. Like Kurt Cobain to rock and pop music.
Jenna owns and runs owns multiple businesses and built up an enormously profitable production company in ClubJenna (which she sold to Playboy). But the biggest reason for her making this list is her debating skills. You see, in 2001, the Oxford Union debating society invited Jameson to come to Oxford to debate a proposed British law against pornography. She came out victorious, winning the debate 204 to 27.
So that’s it, folk! See you next week for another trivia list.