Former adult film actor Mia Khalifa has opened up about how her family disowned her when they found out about her move into the industry.
Speaking on the BBC's HARDtalk, Khalifa spoke about her path into adult film, explaining how it largely stemmed from rebellion and wanting to do something 'so out of bounds' and 'so out of character'.
She said: "I shocked even myself."
Interviewer Stephen Sackur then asked about whether or not her family had any idea about what she was doing at first, to which Khalifa replied: "No."
Advert
She continued: "And they disowned me when they found out.
"I felt completely alienated by not just the world, but my family and the people around me.
"Especially after I quit, when I was still alone, even though I left. And I just realised some mistakes aren't forgivable.
"But time heals all wounds, and things are getting better now."
Brought by her parents to the United States from Lebanon, Khalifa was schooled in America and went on to study History at the University of Texas.
Advert
By the age of just 22, she became the most searched-for performer on Pornhub.
With seemingly stable foundations in life, Khalifa said it wasn't just an urge to rebel that led her into porn, but also a lack of self-esteem.
She said: "I don't think low self-esteem discriminates against anyone. It doesn't matter if you come from a great family or if you come from a not-so-great background.
"I struggled my entire childhood with weight and I never felt attractive or worthy of male attention, and suddenly my first year of college I start losing all this weight from making small changes and by the time I graduated I was ready to make a bigger difference."
Advert
Khalifa added: "After feeling what it was like - that validation and the compliments for the first time - I did not want that to go away."
As well as discussing the controversial hijab scene she became famous for - which saw her warn producers 'You guys are going to get me killed' - Khalifa also explained how she feels the porn industry not only gave her post traumatic stress disorder, but is also ruining relationships for everyday people.
"Of course is affects relationships," she said.
Advert
"The things that men see in videos, they expect from the women in their lives, and that's just not reality.
"No one is doing to be that perfect, no one is going to do those acts on a Wednesday night with the person they love."
Watch HARDtalk with Mia Khalifa on BBC iPlayer.
Featured Image Credit: BBCTopics: Entertainment, TV and Film, Mia Khalifa
