Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work in the sex industry? Have you ever wondered how that work would read when it was eventually turned into a memoir? Today, we’re interviewing the powerhouse that is Rita Therese. Here’s the thing about Rita - she’s widely renowned for being one of the most in-demand sex workers in Australia, yes, but she’s also regarded as one of the country’s rising artistic talents. Because as Rita’s profile under her alias Gia James has grown, so too has has her profile as a prolific artist and writer. This interview is actually from a couple of months ago - before the world turned weird and what we consider “normal” changed drastically. We still wanted to share it though, not only as an escape from what’s going on, but to have a much-needed conversation around sex work and feminism, from a woman who isn’t just an expert in the field, but in philosophy too. At 26 Rita has just published her first book - a memoir called Come - which details her time in the sex industry as well a life of significant personal tragedy and trauma. Here, she tells us what sex work is actually like - even when she has struggled with what she calls “debilitating social anxiety” in the past. If you loved this chat with Rita Therese, please do buy her new memoir Come. It’s an arresting read, and unlike anything you’ve probably come across before. We can’t recommend it enough. You can also find her on Instagram @rita_therese__. Want to follow Michelle and Zara? They're on Instagram @michelleandrews1 and @zamcdonald. Sign up to Bumble Australia today, the social networking app where women make the first move. Love etc. is a production of Shameless Media.