Milwaukee [onMilwaukee.com]- March may be cold, but it’s hot and heavy here at OnMilwaukee.com as we celebrate our first-ever Sex Week. We’re taking a mature look at local video and sex toy shops, area strip clubs, sexy Milwaukee events — and even some connections between Brew City and Playboy magazine. It’s serious, responsible, adult-themed content — but don’t worry, parents, we’ll keep it PG-13 in case junior stumbles upon these stories as OnMilwaukee.com turns a pale shade of blue for seven days.
Melissa Jacobs doesn’t mince words or candy-coat her profession.
“Technically, I’m a porn star now,” says the 27-year-old adult model who grew up in Cudahy and currently lives in Hartford.
Jacobs, who earned a degree in accounting and became a certified esthetician before entering the world of adult entertainment, went from working in professional attire to working in the buff almost over night.
Four years ago, Jacobs sent a few photos of herself to Penthouse. A few months later, she was on a Los Angeles-bound plane to shoot a centerfold.
“I got really, really lucky,” she says.
A few months ago, Jacobs made a big decision. After three years of working as a solo model — without men or women in the shots with her — she decided to make hardcore, girl-on-girl videos for Penthouse. Her decision to expand her professional offerings opened many more doors, including the chance to make a lot more money.
Despite her success, Jacobs remains committed to Wisconsin and her relationship with her boyfriend of seven years while she enjoys the exhilarating ride through the porn industry.
“This is temporary, I know that,” says Jacobs. “And I’m going for it because I’m having so much fun.”
Recently, OnMilwaukee.com spent the morning chatting with Jacobs to find out more about her life as a porn star and as a regular girl.
OnMilwaukee.com: How is it possible for you to live in Hartford and work for Penthouse?
Melissa Jacobs: The majority of my work is in L.A., so I fly there once a month, and live there for two weeks. So I live here half time and in L.A. half time.
OMC: Do you see yourself moving to L.A.?
MJ: No, I really don’t. My family is here. And people are more down-to-earth and, of course, the prices are better here.
OMC: You only shoot girl-on-girl or by yourself, right?
MJ: Yes. Actually, I just started doing girl-on-girl work a few months ago. Before that, I only did solo scenes.
OMC: What made you decide to start doing girl-on-girl work?
MJ: There’s more work and more money available, so after I felt ready, I told my agent I was ready to change my limitations and started to do hardcore girl-on-girl.
OMC: What exactly does “hardcore” mean?
MJ: Hardcore means I’m engaging in real sex acts with women on camera.
OMC: You have your first girl-on-girl Penthouse films coming out soon, right?
MJ: Yes. I cannot tell you the names of the films yet, but I’m the lead in both. In one, I play a “Naughty Nurse Nancy”-type character. The other one is going to be called something like “Confessions of a Web Cam Girl.”
OMC: Did you have to memorize lines?
MJ: Yeah, a few. I have six lines in my next film.
OMC: What did you do before you became an adult film star?
MJ: I worked in accounting for four years. But I always wanted to be a model; I just wasn’t sure how to pursue it.
OMC: So how did you finally break into the scene?
MJ: I found a Web site called onemodelplace.com and it helped me to locate photographers in the Milwaukee area. I started out working for Lazer 103 as a Rock Girl and did some other promotional work. I found it to be so much fun, that I sent some photos to Playboy and Penthouse. Penthouse contacted me right away and flew me out to L.A. for a test shoot in May of 2005. In June of 2005, I shot the centerfold for Penthouse. It was my first real modeling job.
OMC: So your first modeling job in the porn industry was as a centerfold?
MJ: Yes. I really lucked out.
OMC: Were you nervous or uncomfortable being naked in front of the crew during that first shoot?
MJ: I was more nervous about doing well than I was about being naked. I knew this was my big chance, and I didn’t want to screw it up or look scared on the camera. The crews are huge, it’s Penthouse after all, so it was unnerving having so many people around at first. Luckily, there’s a lot of joking on the set.
OMC: Do you ever get cold on the set?
MJ: They usually do whatever it takes to keep the temperature comfortable when you shoot in studio, with all the lighting and posing usually you’re hot if anything. There are a few situations that come to mind though where I’ve been cold: a couple of pool shoots were chilly and part of my centerfold shoot was in the desert where it was really cold and windy at night. I was literally shaking by the time we finished.
OMC: Are you truly turned on when you’re on the set or are you sometimes faking it?
MJ: Oh, it’s real. It has to be real. The good companies won’t hire you unless you’re really into it because it’s not as good if you’re faking it. A part of me gets really turned on, but there’s another part of me that’s always thinking, wondering if I’m pointing toward the main light enough and so on.
OMC: Are you a lesbian? Bisexual?
MJ: I only date men, but I have an attraction to women. And I am more comfortable being with women on the set.
OMC: How does your boyfriend feel about your line of work?
MJ: We always discuss everything I do, and he knows this is a temporary opportunity for me. I am really lucky to have someone who isn’t jealous and know I’m not going to run off with some girl. I take him with me a lot of times so he can see it all first hand. The industry isn’t as crazy as most people think.
OMC: What is the kinkiest thing you’ve done for a shoot?
MJ: Well, I do these dirty talk scenes for panty fetish fans which gets pretty kinky. You’re basically encouraging the guys to get off to you by teasing and talking while stripping down to your panties and eventually getting nude. It’s a pretty specific fetish, something I’d never known of until I started working in the industry.
OMC: What other magazine have you posed for?
MJ: Hustler (twice), Threesomes, Strip Las Vegas, Naked Girls Smoking Weed, Swank, Biker and many more. I also have a Web site, melissajacobs.com.
OMC: What about your video projects?
MJ: “Lust In The City,” “Girls Only Pool Party,” “Ruthless Restraint for Costume Captives,” “Tie ‘Em Up and Keep ‘Em Quiet,” “Have a Wrappy New Year,” “Bound Girls Can Make Trouble,” “Business Beauties in Bondage,” etc.
I’ve appeared on Playboy TV, Howard Stern and I performed with Motley Crue on “The David Letterman Show.” I’ve done billboards for the Sturgis Rally and many other TV and radio spots.
OMC: What’s your favorite part about being in the porn industry?
MJ: There are so many travel opportunities. It’s like playing dress up all the time. I didn’t think this would ever happen, so I still can’t believe I’m paid to have this much fun, And I like that the work encourages me to take care of myself.
OMC: Do you diet a lot? Work out a lot?
MJ: I work out regularly with a personal trainer, but I’m lucky that I can eat pretty much what I want as long as I work out.
OMC: Do you see yourself working in this industry for a long time?
MJ: I see this as a job, but not a career. I’ll definitely do it as long as I can, but once I’m finished, I’m finished. Luckily, I have two degrees to fall back on.
OMC: What are your measurements?
MJ: 32C bust, 24 waist and 34 hips.
OMC: Ever had plastic surgery?
MJ: I got breast implants before I was a model. I did it for myself. I didn’t want to go too big. I wanted to be proportionate, which I am.
OMC: Have you considered more surgery?
MJ: No way. Actually, it freaked me out just getting the implants. There are risks with surgery, and it’s just not worth it because plastic surgery isn’t a necessary surgery.
OMC: How does your family feel about your career choice?
MJ: My whole family knows what I do, including my grandma. I haven’t kept anything a secret, and luckily, I was raised in a very accommodating family. They don’t watch my movies, but they know what I’m doing. The important thing is that I’m comfortable with what I do, and I am. I have eased into everything.
OMC: So no one in your life has been unsupportive?
MJ: Well, I spend a lot of time on airplanes, and people sitting next to me always chat me up. I never hesitate to tell them what I do, knowing there’s the possibility that they won’t like it. But once I was sitting next to a guy on a plane, he was a lawyer, and I told him I was an adult film star and he told me he was very religious and got really quiet at first. Then we chatted a little more and he said he had never met anyone like me before and that he might have judged me unfairly.
OMC: How does Penthouse treat you?
MJ: Amazing. We’re put on pedestals. They give us gifts and set us up in great hotels.
OMC: Is it true there’s a Melissa Jacobs blow-up doll?
MJ: Yes. It’s called the “Melissa Jacobs Cyberskin Pet P*ssy.”
OMC: So what exactly is “cyberskin?”
MJ: It’s a material that warms up when you touch it. It feels like real skin.
OMC: Is your work challenging?
MJ: Absolutely. There’s a lot to think about while you’re on the set.
OMC: Is the money’s pretty good in the porn industry?
MJ: Yes. I haven’t really splurged on much yet except a few tropical vacations. I’m looking for the right BMW. I’m holding back for now, but considering buying myself one for my birthday.