A Russian woman with blonde hair and a smouldering smile is sitting in her studio, recording her nude face to attract a male client. A few groans and screams are heard in the background. She is a webcam model, and if her performance is good, she can earn up to 250 thousand rubles (€3,500) a month.
The webcam sex industry is one of the biggest in the world, with clients logging in from North America and Europe. The business is open around the clock, and there is always a demand. Some of the models are independent, but most work in studios owned by a company that hires them and pays their earnings on a commission basis.
This largely unregulated market is booming, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. While many 20- and 30-somethings have lost their jobs, women able to use the Internet and speak English have found new opportunities. They are called russian camgirls and they earn a lot of money from their broadcasts.
Webcam modeling has grown so popular that some models become internet celebrities. They have a large following on social media and make personal contact with their fans. The majority of russian camgirls are young, and some are even students. But the business isn’t easy. It requires a lot of time, energy and the right equipment. A single webcam costs around 1000 rubles, and there is a huge competition for clients.
In some cases, a model can be sacked for breach of contract or for promoting erotic material. And a studio owner can be charged with violating article 242 of the Criminal Code, which punishes involvement in “the organization and direction of an activity that is illegal by its nature.”
Despite these risks, some women continue to join the russian cam girl business. For them, it is a more reliable source of income than traditional employment or even a paid job. In addition to their regular earnings, some girls buy expensive video cameras and sex toys for their show. They also spend a lot of time preparing for their broadcasts.
One such russian camgirl is Angelina, who works in a studio on Kaluzhskaya Square in central Moscow. She says that she decided to start the business because she wanted to be able to support herself and her boyfriend. “I studied a sensible profession after school, but it wasn’t enough to live on,” she says. “And I was very excited when I started this job.”
But she hasn’t earned as much since the war with Ukraine began. In chats, foreign customers often insult her because of her country of origin, and she has been blocked from a few popular platforms such as OnlyFans. Nevertheless, she has no plans to quit her job. For her, it’s the only way she can survive. She is optimistic, though: “I think things will get better over time.” This article was originally published in Russian on DW’s website. It has been translated by Ivan Zhilin and edited for DW News.