Tell us about what you do.
I work in Pattaya as a nightclub promoter. I talk to the Russian tourists and show them around the clubs. But if someone in Bangkok needs a stripper, they call me and I come up. I used to be a full-time stripper for almost five years, but now it’s an extra job, like a hobby. Pay me and I’ll dance anywhere.

How long have you been in Thailand?
I’ve been in Thailand for seven months. I came here on holiday and I decided to stay and find work. I used to get short contracts for stripping overseas so I’ve worked in Moscow, Turkey, China and Taiwan before. Now I have a regular job and stability—I like it.

How did you start stripping?
I started when I was 27. My friend asked me to go with him to a nightclub where they had a casting [for strippers]. I worked in an office before but it wasn’t for me. I had studied engineering, but I only did it because of my mother. All my life I was a serious swimmer and I wanted to study sports at university but my mother said I couldn’t. My parents pushed me when I was young, and I was scared of them. They were shocked when they found out I was stripping. My father didn’t talk to me for three months.

Are you in a relationship?
No, no. My last relationship was a long time ago, five years ago. It was very, very hard, because she was very jealous but I needed to work. For me, stripping is a job, nothing more. I don’t like talking about it. When I tell people I’m a stripper they ask me uncomfortable questions like, “Are you gay?” or “Do you sleep with girls for money?” I’m not gay but it doesn’t matter to me if I’m dancing for women or men. But when women are watching me, I want to see a reaction. If I see that the ladies like me, I like them back. It’s an exchange.

Would you date a stripper?
No. Female strippers are difficult. I’ve worked with girls many times and I don’t understand what goes on in their heads. They’re always changing their minds.

What’s your daily routine like nowadays?
I wake up at 3pm and go to the gym or English school. I try to go to the gym every day—if I’m not too hungover. I’ve started learning muay thai, so I go there first, then to the gym for one hour. Work at the club is from 11pm to 3am and I get home around 5am. I like working at night. Every night I get to see friends and meet new people.

Do you remember your first time on stage?
There were six of us and when we got on stage I forgot everything. I panicked and just took everything off. But I like that feeling, that excitement. During my first year, there was so much emotion when I went on stage, because it was all new. Now, it feels routine. But it’s very hard to stop because I enjoy it. I’ll stop when everyone stops calling me. Or if my body changes.

 Special thanks to: Levels, Sukhumvit 11