From Sex Work to Political Disruption: Courtney Casgraux’s Story of Resilience

SWCEO Interviews Courtney Casgraux

Blog Post Written By: MelRose Michaels

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What happens when a dominatrix, business mogul, and political candidate walk into the same room—and they’re all the same woman? Courtney Casgraux doesn’t just challenge the status quo; she flips it on its head, proving that sexuality and power aren’t mutually exclusive—they’re inseparable.

In a recent Twitter Space conversation, MelRose Michaels sits down with Courtney Casgraux to explore how she’s turned censorship, scandal, and stigma into undeniable strength—building empires in both the boardroom and the dungeon, and even running for Congress without hiding a single chapter of her story.

MelRose Michaels: Today’s guest isn’t just breaking molds—she’s melting them down and making them her own. Courtney Casgraux, also known as Courtney Corvette, is a political disruptor, business powerhouse, dominatrix, and lifelong artist with 15 years in the sex industry. She’s run for Congress, owned salons and galleries on both coasts, and carved space for herself in industries that weren’t exactly welcoming.

But Courtney isn’t here to be accepted—she’s here to be undeniable. We’re talking about what happens when your sexuality gets politicized, how censorship and stigma become weapons, and what it really takes to build a brand rooted in power, not apology.

Welcome, Courtney! Thank you so much for joining us today.

Courtney Casgraux: Thank you for having me. I’m very happy to be here.

MelRose Michaels: For those new to you and your work, how would you describe what you do and who you are? And how do Courtney Casgraux and Courtney Corvette coexist in your world?

Courtney: I’m an adult performer, businesswoman, activist, and politician. I don’t separate these roles—they’re just different chapters of the same story. Each version of me taught me how to fight smarter, lead better, and stay human in spaces where people are often forgotten.

I started in sex work as a dominatrix at 19. From there, I saved money to start my business, GBY Beauty. My work in inclusive beauty campaigns caught the attention of Fortune 500 companies—Twitter, Google, Nike. I even became the first female Creative Director for Nike’s swimwear brand, Hurley.

In 2015, NGOs brought me into politics, first as a humanitarian, then as an elected official in LA County. When COVID hit, I re-entered the adult industry to save my businesses while still serving as an elected official. Every version of me sharpened the next.

MelRose Michaels: That’s incredible. Was there ever a moment when you realized you weren’t ever going to just be one thing?

Courtney: It wasn’t a loud moment; it was just an inner knowing. I’ve always lived life without regret, wanting to try everything. I remember standing in my office, wondering how all of this was supposed to fit into one box.

At one point, I thought I had to shed old versions of myself to be taken seriously. But I realized every experience shaped me, and I didn’t stumble into being multifaceted—I chose it.

MelRose Michaels: You’ve built multiple personal brands and worked with huge companies. What lessons from those ventures have you brought into your work as an adult creator?

Courtney: Working in corporate and building my own brands taught me how to think in layers. Success isn’t just about having a good product—it’s about understanding how people want to experience it.

In adult content creation, it’s not just about sex appeal. It’s about curation—every photo, every video, every caption should feel intentional. You have to anticipate what your audience wants before they even know it.

And behind the scenes, you’re not just the talent—you’re the PR team, legal team, customer service, logistics manager. If you want longevity, you must treat this like a business. Plan your content like a product launch—even if that product is, let’s be real, a blowjob video.

MelRose Michaels: Exactly. Creators often think they need all the answers before they start. But things evolve naturally. Track your sales, understand what content performs well, and produce more of that. Treat your launches like events, build hype, and use fan feedback to keep the momentum going.

MelRose Michaels: Scaling a personal or adult creator brand is hard. How have you managed to expand without losing authenticity?

Courtney: I’ve learned to scale with intention, not ego. It’s easy to get swept up in more followers, more content, more collaborations. But growth only works if it aligns with my values.

Social media can feel overwhelming, and there’s constant pressure to be louder, more extreme. But I’ve found that clarity, not chaos, resonates. Before I take on anything new—merch, collaborations, platforms—I ask myself: Does this feel like me? Does it align with my voice, my values, my energy?

You also have to learn to delegate without disconnecting from your brand. You can’t do it all yourself. And sometimes, saying “no” is the most powerful thing you can do.

MelRose Michaels:You ran for Congress while being open about your sex work past. That’s incredibly bold. How did you stay grounded when your sexuality was being weaponized against you?

Courtney: It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. My sexuality was absolutely weaponized. People tried to reduce my identity to a headline or a screenshot.

But I reminded myself—I built my own life. I wasn’t running just for me; I was running for everyone who’s ever had to hide a part of themselves to be taken seriously. And the more people tried to shame me, the more support I got from people who saw through it.

MelRose Michaels: Are you comfortable sharing how you were outed?

Courtney: Sure. I was gaining momentum in my campaign when my intern alerted me to Reddit threads discussing whether a congressional candidate with a sex work past should be allowed to run. It was clearly a political move.

Soon after, the media picked it up—Playboy stood by me, but then outlets like the New York Post, Daily Mail, and Fox News ran with it. It spiraled fast. Videos were leaked, headlines got

worse by the hour. It turned into a full-blown smear campaign.

MelRose Michaels: Do you think we’ll reach a point where someone can run for office without their sexual past being dragged into the spotlight?

Courtney: We’re getting closer, but we’re not there yet. We live in a country where sex purchasers can hold office, but not sex workers. But with every election cycle, more people are forcing these conversations. Authenticity is starting to outweigh polish.

MelRose Michaels: You were deplatformed during your campaign. What did that teach you about censorship as a form of control?

Courtney: It taught me that we don’t own our digital presence. Censorship isn’t really about safety—it’s about control. My accounts weren’t removed for violating guidelines; they were removed because I refused to stay silent about what was happening in D.C.

Big Tech has enormous influence over who gets to speak and who gets erased. Until we have platforms that respect sexual freedom and free speech, we’ll always be at their mercy.

MelRose Michaels: Advocacy is clearly important to you. How does that show up in your work today?

Courtney: It’s woven into everything I do. I’ve worked with NGOs in Iraq, Amsterdam, and the Czech Republic, helping women who’ve survived trafficking and war. Helping women reconnect with their bodies after trauma is deeply important to me.

That work naturally flows into my BDSM practice, where power isn’t taken—it’s given willingly. It can be incredibly healing for people to explore their desires without shame.

MelRose Michaels: For creators who want to explore dom or femdom content but feel unsure, what’s your advice?

Courtney: Just start. You don’t have to be loud or hypersexualized to be powerful. True dominance comes from presence and confidence. And remember—you don’t have to fit into one box. Be as multifaceted as you want to be.

MelRose Michaels: If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

Courtney: Sex work isn’t something to escape from—it’s something to own. It will teach you more about power, trust, identity, and creativity than any classroom ever could.

MelRose Michaels: What’s next for you?

Courtney: I’m writing a book in the Library of Congress. Sitting there, writing about my experiences in a space built by men, in a city where women like me were once institutionalized for even dreaming of running for office—it’s humbling and powerful.

MelRose Michaels: That’s incredible. If there’s one final message you want to leave with everyone, what is it?

Courtney: Trust that inner voice. You’re capable of more than you realize. And remember—no one’s opinion matters but your own.

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Some parts of the above interview have been condensed or edited for clarity. For the full interview, listen to the entire podcast episode here

Find Courtney Casgraux on X

P.S. If this conversation fired you up, imagine what happens when you surround yourself with creators who actually get it. The CEO Society is where adult creators come together to share strategies, wins, and real-talk support. Know someone who needs that kind of community? Send them this link, and tell them we’ve been saving them a seat.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the interview are those of the guest speaker and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SexWorkCEO or MelRose Michaels. Anything said or written is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone else.