A few years ago, Medellin became a global hub for webcam modeling, a booming interractive sex industry that allows viewers worldwide to chat with and pay models for intimate performances. Today, Colombia leads Latin America in the number of cam performers and accounts for roughly 25 percent of the world market.
A typical cam girl spends up to 10 hours a day in a house-turned-studio and can earn $250 US or more each week depending on her performance and the time she spends online. The women CNN spoke to say they keep 40-60 percent of their earnings, and for some, that can be well above the national minimum wage.
As part of their responsibilities, cam girls must keep the studio clean and meet strict hygiene standards. They wear masks and must shower after a show, and they are tested for STIs on a regular basis. They are also required to wash their hair at least once a week to prevent infections and to maintain healthy skin. They can only use a certain amount of body lotion to avoid a dry and flaky complexion.
The work is hard and exhausting, but for some, the money is enough to live comfortably. For example, Valeria, a 22-year-old from Medellin, says she can earn $300 US per week on average. That’s more than triple the local minimum wage in Colombia. A cam model’s earnings can increase when she gains a following, performs at special events, and promotes her shows to her followers on social media.
Many of the women interviewed say that they started their careers in adult entertainment because they were desperate for income. The sex industry isn’t a new phenomenon in Colombia, where some of the first studios opened in the early 2000s. But the economic crisis in Venezuela, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, has prompted more women to turn to it as a way to make ends meet.
Most of the cam studios in Colombia are run by Venezuelan migrant workers, and they employ Venezuelan women who come to them seeking employment. They are paid a salary and provided with a room to stay in exchange for streaming themselves on websites like LivePornHub. The studios are often based in residential neighborhoods that look normal from the outside, but inside they are converted into rooms equipped with lights, cameras, and a wide selection of sex toys.
For some of the models, a good-paying job in Colombia isn’t possible, so they rely on this lucrative but exploitative industry. They’re a reminder of how the global economy can turn, and of the ways in which people will go to extremes for a little extra cash. A hundred dollars goes a long way in Colombia, and for some colombian camgirls, it’s enough to pay their rent and buy food. For others, it’s a lifeline to a future free from the economic hardships of Venezuela.