Those of you who have met me know I’m an open book.  While I know how to conduct myself in a professional manner when the occasion calls for formal behavior, I am at most times the woman who is completely open, friendly and gracious to all people.  Yes, I respect those who do not see eye-to-eye with me.  I will even give them hugs!  ((()))

Years ago, I was involved in this demimonde under a different name.  I was younger, I was insecure (aren’t we all?  But especially in our twenties!), I had a solid reputation as an overnight/travel companion.  I also had a body that was considered “fit and sexy” by most, but was the result of my eating disorders.

During my time in the demimonde as the “other” name, I experienced a devastating, life-changing event that took its toll on me… I experienced major depression, my eating disorders went in the opposite direction, I went out “partying” every night just to numb myself from my emotions and found just getting out of bed to be difficult.

Did I look like sh?t?  Absolutely!  I look at pictures from those days and I looked sickly, puffy, worn out and OLD.

Did I gain weight?  Yes!  And I was too depressed to go out and buy a new wardrobe, resulting in me donning clothes that were a size too small and I looked like…well…just bad.

I took a temporary retirement from this little world until I felt healthier and went through a healing process.  I recreated myself as “Lynette Marie” and have had a wonderful time doing so.

Recently, however, the staff at a certain review site discovered that I used to go by another name before becoming “Lynette.”  They banned me from their site for a short while, but once I explained my history, I was reinstated as a member.

While they did not combine my previous “stage name” with my current one (Lynette Marie,) they did combine old reviews along with my new ones.

OUCH!!!!!!!

In reading the old reviews about me before I became Lynette, my heart broke and I felt nauseous.  It was apparent how I started out as a very youthful, apparently “fit” young lady (in spite of those eating disorders) and ended up as a tired, puffy, worn out woman.

Once again, OUCH!!!!

But the more I look back at those old reviews, the less painful the “OUCH!” is.

I look back at those days and I am thankful for how far I’ve come…

• I overcame depression

• I overcame my eating disorders

• I learned to accept myself as a flawed human being because WE ARE ALL FLAWED

• I returned to the world of fitness, running four-five half marathons a year along with numerous 10Ks

• I look younger, leaner, stronger and more vibrant (!!)

• Most importantly, I am now comfortable in my skin…in being REAL…and surrounding myself with other open-minded, kind hearted people

So it this too much to share as an escort?  Does anyone really care?

My belief is no, this is not too much to share.  I am a real human being with real hurts, heartbreaks and hangups.  Just like you.

And YES, people care…at least people like you who take the time to read my blog.

I welcome your comments and if you wish to vent your own hurts, please do share.

I thank The Erotic Review for allowing me to post on their site again (mainly sex workers rights issues) and to be a listed and ranked escort.  If you are not a member, I recommend checking them out and all that they have to offer to both companions and clients.

Feeling empowered by how far I’ve come,

Lynette Marie
–formerly known as Selena Scott

Hi Lynette,

this is John Q. Patron.  I hope life has been treating you well.

I will be traveling for business in a few weeks and I’m wondering if I may provide your name as a reference when I contact ladies for appointments.  Is that okay?

My best,
John Q.

My response is always pretty much the same:

Of course!  Any time!

I am very supportive of both ladies and gentlemen who are involved in this little world of ours.  While some people are convinced that escorts are always secretly in competition with each other, let me break this myth right now.  The providers I surround myself with keep in touch with each other via email, phone calls, Skype, texts, Twitter, Facebook etc… whether we are 5 or 5,000 miles away from each other.  If one of us is in a jam, is sick, just needs to talk, we take comfort in knowing we can reach out to each other for advice or a shoulder to cry on.

If you are also a reference friendly provider, please go here to Missy Mariposa’s site to grab her badge and let the world know you want to keep other providers safe.

After graduating and moving to another (and bigger) city, I discovered escort advertising malls online and excitedly had a friend take some pictures of me and placed my ad.  The ad grew into a website and I soon earned a reputation as being a legitimate, respected and quality provider.

However, for years the most correspondence I had with other companions was when we participated in discussions on bulletin boards, invited one another to engage in a banner exchange or requested patron references.

It wasn’t until about a year ago that I began meeting other ladies face to face, first at ladies-only gatherings, then reaching out in friendship one-on-one with women I’d communicated with on the boards, through Twitter and by participating in sex workers’ media training workshops and other sex worker related conferences.

Now let me tell you something:  when I am meeting a gentleman for the first time, I am never nervous.  Excited?  Absolutely!  In anticipation? Absolutely.  But when I was meeting other sex workers for the first time, I was practically shaking with nervousness!  “What are these women all about?  Where did they come from?  Are they super models?  Do they have PhDs?  Do they have issues with men?  Will they spread gossip about me?”  These are the thoughts that ran through my mind as  I was on my way to meet a lady or a room full of them.  Especially when I was going to meet a former madam and a woman who worked in a dungeon!  I expected some very harsh personalities and with me being a laid back, “cupcake” type (so I’ve been told) I was intimidated to enter the room…

To my surprise (and admittedly, my relief) most all the ladies I’ve met in this industry have been absolutely charming, friendly, interesting and sincere.  Have I met any super model types?  Yes, I’ve met some very attractive ladies.  Ladies with advanced degrees?  Yes, myself included.  Have any had issues with men?  Unfortunately, I have met a handful who seemed to talk down about their clients (I even heard the term “turning tricks.”  It honestly turned my stomach to hear that in real life)  but the majority of women I’ve met entered this industry because they enjoy the company of men and they look forward to spending time with their patrons.  Have any of them spread gossip about me?  Who knows.  Perhaps.  While I avoid participating in gossip, I understand it is considered “fun” by many.  Hopefully, I’m gossiped about in a good way, like, “Did you hear Lynette’s latest radio interview?”  Something like that. =)

And were the madam or dungeon workers harsh or dressed in black goth-style clothing?  Not at all.  They were both incredibly down to earth.  In fact, the madam was truly interested in my pursuits and played a huge role in my decision to move forward with a project that I now have in the works.

I have friends in many areas of my life:  my fitness world, my spiritual world, alumni and volunteer groups.  But with my fellow sex workers, I have nothing to hide.  I have found a group of supportive ladies and gentlemen who I can call while crying or venting some concern and they have always lent a supportive and nonjudgmental ear.

So if you are an escort or other type of sex worker who is reading this and have been feeling isolated amongst your “civvie” friends who don’t  know about your role in the demimonde, and have been afraid to reach out to other ladies (and gentlemen!) in this little world of ours, I encourage you to take that first step.  Peruse some discussion boards and websites, find someone who you feel you could relate to and drop her or him a note to just say hello.  Chances are, you’ll be glad you did!