Isabella Sorrenti: beauty, brains, and so much more!

Hello Isabella, and thank you so much for doing this interview!

You’ve been nominated for multiple 2017 AVN awards including Favorite Trans Performer and several TEA awards including Best Solo Model and Ms. Unique. What does it mean to you to be recognized by the industry and fans for your work?

It means a lot to me. Receiving recognition and these accolades just sweetens the deal for me. It shows how much my fans appreciate not only my work but me as a whole. I try to keep in contact with a lot of them when they message me. I have some awesome fans, that’s for sure.

If I win then I win but if I don’t at least I was recognized for something and the experience on it’s own is enough for me.

When you were younger, what was your perception of sex workers and porn, and has it changed now that you’ve worked in industry?

When I was younger I guess I didn’t care much about porn or anyone who did sex work. In fact, I didn’t know that term until I began industry. Honestly, it was fun in the beginning but things aren’t so fun for me anymore. It’s a lot of personal stuff that I’d like to keep to myself.

Our stories are similar in that we both did a lot of research and blog reading before we applied to Grooby. What motivated you to enter the porn industry?

It was actually a dare from a few of my friends. They told me I couldn’t do it so I went ahead and decided to prove them wrong. It wasn’t anything I wanted to do long term. It was honestly all for fun but then things got serious I guess? At this point I’m deciding as to whether I should stay in the industry or leave. I guess we’ll see wont we?

What was your childhood like growing up in Missouri? At what point did you realize you were trans?

My childhood in Missoura was great! We had a lot of woodland, ponds, long grassy fields, barns, horses, fruit trees, beautiful landscaping and privacy. I really miss a lot of that and wouldn’t mind settling down in a place similar to where I grew up one day. I realized I was a trans when I was about 4-5 years old I just didn’t know the term at that point. I was confused and wondering why I couldn’t dress like the girls in school. Why I had to dress up as a boy back then.

Has your family been accepting and supportive of you?

I do not speak to my family; it’s been 10 years since I last spoke to them. I’m on my own and have been since I was 15. With the history I have with them I would never allow them to be a part of my life now. They’re selfish and judgmental. Since they’re Catholic and Mormon I highly doubt they would be accepting of my career.

You have a degree in Neurobiology and at one point were planning to go to Med School. Why did you decide against that career path?

I decided not to fully pursue medicine because I wanted something different. I decided to transition instead of going to medical school. School is boring in general so I didn’t want to be stuck in it for another 8-10 years. By the time I had progressed in my transition I could no longer stomach blood so I definitely don’t wanna pursue that now. Would I pursue it in the future? Probably not.

Can you tell us about your Twitter name, Goddess Persephone, and the meaning behind it?

That’s actually my domme name. It may seem like a pretty or beautiful name but there’s actually a dark meaning behind it. I wanted to choose a name that chose my personality as a domme.

I’m part Greek so it’s of Greek Origin, back to Ancient Greece actually. “Pertho” means “to destroy” and “phone” means “murder”. It just fit so well to my personality as a domme so I chose that name.

Brief History: Persephone was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus but was abducted by Hades. She was allowed to return after one year and her coming and going is why we supposedly have our change in seasons now.

Do you enjoy interacting with your fans on social media?

That depends. I used to be very responsive but I’m actually a lot more irritated with some of these “fans” now. Since this is going out to the public I’ll say what I need to say now. I am not seeking marriage or a relationship with clients. I like to keep my business professional. So when I get idiots messaging me things like that I get irritated. That’s why I either block or simply don’t respond anymore. I’m not so nice anymore. I do speak to a large amount of loyal fans who respect me though when I can. Some of these idiots should keep their tiny pricks in their pants. They’re making men look even worse than they already are.

Does being a famous pornstar make it easier or more difficult to date?

It actually makes it very difficult. I thought it would have the opposite effect but many people are either intimidated by me or they change their tune and want to use me for fulfillment of their personal fetishes and to cross off having sex with a pornstar off their list. So I no longer date for those reasons. Besides the guys I’ve dated all had exponentially smaller pricks. I put them to shame. Do I want to date someone in the future? Highly doubtful. People are just disappointing.

What are your thoughts about Donald Trump winning the election and what concerns do you have about his upcoming presidency?

Please leave politics out of this interview. I cannot stand politics and some of the things people are doing are completely preposterous. There are better ways to cope.

What do you feel are the biggest issues facing the transgender community right now?

I think the biggest issues are resources. It’s a bit easier to get things done here on the West Coast but after speaking to a lot of people from all over the US I learned how difficult it can for them not having the proper counseling, having difficulties getting their hormone therapy and help in getting surgery. I know too well how closed minded some states can be with their support for the LGBTQIA community. So acceptance and support seem to be the biggest issues.

Being a pornstar seems like it would be a dream job. What’s your favorite part of the job and your least favorite part?

I kind of laughed a little. This is far from being a dream job. In fact I feel the longer you’re in this kind of career the harder it can get for that person mentally and physically. There are a lot of people out there who shame you for who you are and it makes you do things that are stupid and nonsensical. A lot of these girls can be brutal and mean so it’s hard to see how this would be considered a “dream job”.

My favorite part. It gave me the self-confidence I desired for so long and opened up a lot of doors. Least favorite part? I don’t really want to go there. Let’s just say certain people should calm down and realize this isn’t Hollywood, they’re not A-listers and they should be a lot nicer to others rather than showing they’re better than everyone. I’ve seen that kind of behavior too much in this industry. Rather than being connected to each other I feel it’s very much disconnected. Things need to change.

You mentioning being shamed for working in this industry, which is something I’ve written about before. What can we as an industry do to combat this shaming and present a more positive image of who we are and of the industry as a whole?

I think for starters people should keep their comments to themselves. They don’t realize they are committing an act of bullying when they stoop that low. It is demeaning and a completely irrelevant. You’re supposed to encourage each other not grab each other by the necks. This goes not only to the people outside the industry but also a lot of those who are in the industry.

We will never fully deplete the issue but we can try and suppress it as much as possible. We aren’t better than the next person because we are all in it for different reasons. Some of us want to save up for sexual reassignment surgery, others want to amplify their self-confidence and there are a few who see it as a career choice (typically the younger ones). So we can’t judge one person or another for the things we do. We’re all sex workers, either deal with or go away as far as you can from people who want to do something with themselves because you’re not helping.

What is the one thing you treasure the most from your time in the porn industry?

The support from fans. I’ve spoken to a lot of great people. I would never take that back.

What advice would you give to aspiring models who want to get into the industry?

Tread these waters carefully. It may seem glamorous and all but it’s not what it seems. They should consider doing extensive research and making a competent and sound decision before pursuing it. Not everyone is going to accept it. I’m not trying to discourage anyone but without the needed support it can be hard. Just make sure it’s something you want to do 100%.

When you’re not working, what activities do you enjoy in your free time?

I like to travel to national parks for the day, go out to the desert to stargaze, try new vegan restaurants, read romance novels, go hiking and watch Netflix.

What shows on Netflix have grabbed your attention lately?

I don’t have really have any shows that catch my attention. I usually watch a lot of the movies they have on there. White Christmas was something I enjoy watching every year so I indulged myself with that!

What’s a typical day in your life like?

The typical day in my life is like anyone else. I’m not some Hollywood celebrity who has paparazzi outside their house. I just live my life and that’s all.

How long have you been a vegan? Did you choose a vegan lifestyle just for health reasons or was it also a moral issue about eating animals?

2 years. I chose it because of the animals. Veganism to me is about making better choices to help animals and showing others how doable this lifestyle is. Ideally, the use of animal products and the exploitation that it involves should be eliminated. I support products, while not perfect, that will nevertheless help prevent the vast majority of animal suffering.

Where would you like to see yourself in ten years?

I’d like to hopefully be married to a billionaire. Have a kid. Live in Europe. Be traveling all over the world.

Who inspires you?

I think the main person who inspires me is my best friend. She’s very sick and dying. A lot of her words and encouragement has helped me become a better person. A better and stronger woman.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

Honestly after doing so many other interviews I think everyone knows things about me. Like the fact I’m a US Marine, or that I was an MMA instructor, I speak 4 languages and I have an IQ of 145 (yes I took the Mensa IQ Test).

What was it like for you serving in the military as a trans person and having to hide who you really are?

Before joining the military I was very depressed and was trying to figure out any way to mask my femininity. I tried hanging out with the popular guys, who gladly made me an addition to their group, and even tried being an adrenaline junkie. After many fails to put up a facade I decided to join the military. Keep in mind, I had zero clue what I was getting myself into. Some of my friends were joining the Marines and so I decided to tag along during their pool functions. After some time I made the decision to sign all the paperwork and get sworn in at my local MEPS. I figured if I joined a bunch of meat heads I’d be just like them.

The struggle was very much real. Even during boot camp. It was hard to find guys I could relate to. Fortunately my battle buddy was really nice and understanding so I wasn’t alone. You realize really quick that the Marines take care of their own, no matter what. Its sorority and frat house for the elite. That doesn’t always apply to everyone though. After going through MOS school and being stationed with an artillery unit my gender dysphoria only got worse. After my third year of serving I confided in one of my fellow Marines about my deepest, darkest secret. They swore to keep it but that didn’t last long. After some psych evaluations and counseling they deemed me unfit for duty that my participation was unsatisfactory. Wasn’t up to par with the other Marines. I was pretty bummed, depressed but I didn’t realize I was given freedom once more. The freedom to be who I was truly meant to be. So I have no regrets for everything that happened.

Did being trans affect your ability to serve or your decision to reenlist or not?

I feel that identifying myself as trans caused a lot of issues during that time mainly because it was a gray area and considered taboo at that time. I was incapable of re-enlisting so there was no way for me to get back in. The Army approached me once saying they wanted to help me and could sign me up but I would have to choose infantry as my MOS. I really didn’t want to go through any more stress and pressure. I wanted to focus on school and learning more about myself. I think when you want to be identified as a man or a woman and your unit doesn’t accept that it can be difficult for anyone.

Were you involuntarily separated from the military because of being trans?

Yes I was. It was a very dark time in my journey but it was the beginning towards my freedom to be myself. I didn’t immediately come out to society about it. It took time and I had to muster a lot of courage. I’m glad it happened because there’s a chance I wouldn’t be here right now.

How do you feel now that trans people can serve openly in the military?

It took them long enough! Honestly, I’m very happy for my trans brothers and sisters. I know the third phase hasn’t really taken effect but once that happens I feel it’s gonna open a lot more doors for everyone. It’s gonna be hard to come to terms for a lot of individuals but they’ll soon realize that they’re all there to do the same thing. They’re all there to serve their country with honor and integrity.

What does Veteran’s Day mean to you?

To me Veteran’s Day is a tribute to all the women and men who have served their country and to honor those who have fallen in the line of duty. It’s the day where all the communities come together in order to recognize this and to celebrate the sacrifices made. If it wasn’t for all the sacrifice we wouldn’t have the freedoms we have today. We wouldn’t be breathing the air we breathe today and there’s a good chance you wouldn’t be here today or you’d be speaking another language. Next time you see a veteran go up to them and thank them. Not for being in the military but for making the decision to do something not everyone can. The Few. The Proud. The Marines ;)

Thank you so much for doing the interview Isabella, it was a real treat!

You can follow Isabella on Twitter here: @IsaSorrentiXXX