Ahhh, it’s almost summertime and I’m not even beach body ready yet. Thankfully, the Oregon coast usually requires a hoodie and sweatpants, so let’s do this.
The saga continues and "May The 4th" is not the only date you need marked in your calendar (even though Devils Point and Kit Kat Club will be having their Star Wars theme parties that evening). Polerotica, the best pole-oriented, fully nude contest in the world (yeah, I said it) is wrapping up mid-month. You have no more than two qualifier rounds (see dates and venues in the Spotlight section at the end of this column), before the finals on Friday, May 24 at Dante’s. A cover shot for Exotic? Check. A shitload of cash and prizes? Check. Being able to return to your hometown with bragging rights that put everyone you grew up with to shame? Check. Also, if you’re equally as good at shaking your booty as you are at defying gravity on the pole, why not compete in DJ Dick Hennessy’s Motorbooty competition, happening this month as well (with a comparable amount of cash, prizes and bragging rights)? Imagine winning both contests! How would your high school friends feel about that??? Speaking of which...
Now, on to an event that is happening next month (as opposed to last month), the Exxxotica Expo is coming to Portland for its first year in our city! With over a decade under their belt, the people behind Exxxotica are bringing tons of pornstars and adult celebs to the Portland Expo Center, with an anticipated attendance in the tens of thousands. To help promote the event, I was given my choice of attending stars to interview, and thanks to my hometown pride, I was able to have a chat with none other than Salem’s own "library girl," Kendra Sunderland! Not only is Kendra a smart, humble and sexy lady, she’ll be repping Bad Dragon at the Exxxotica Expo. I was lucky enough to record our interview for the magazine, enjoy...
Unlike the typical adult stars or celebrities in general, you broke onto the scene under your real name, which you continued to use as your stage name. Has it been easy, for instance, returning to visit your hometown, shopping at WinCo or otherwise being recognized by name and face, working as an adult star?
I just feel like I had to go with it, since people already knew me by my real name, but as far as going home, it’s not too bad—it’s like any other place. I’m sure people notice me and don’t say anything, but I’ve never really had a problem with anyone.
So, you can go shopping in Oregon and not get mobbed by autograph-seekers?
I definitely don’t get mobbed. I was recently visiting home, getting myself a new phone and also getting one for my little brother, who was there with me. The guy at the counter didn’t say anything at first, but when we were done, he asked if he could take a picture with me. As far as my little brother, well...my family is used to it. They don’t really care.
How has it been, returning to Oregon for feature performances?
The first time I came around, a few years ago, that was the first time I’d been to a club in Salem and the whole front row was made up of people I went to high school with. And, then, the second time, I had a bunch of people say that they were gonna come see me, but no one really did (laughs). Either way, I still have a good time being home.
And, you will be back here on June 6, 7 and 8 for Exxxotica Expo, yes?
Yes. I don’t really do a lot of those type of events these days, but I’m looking forward to the Portland Exxxotica Expo, because it’s my home state. Plus, Saturday night, I’m having my birthday party in Oregon. I’ll be at the Bad Dragon booth all weekend for the Exxxotica Expo, though, so folks can come get an autograph and picture.
Tell us about the benefits of working as an independent performer in the modern adult entertainment industry, as opposed to back in the day, when you had to be explicitly contracted with one company.
I mean, it’s the same for pretty much anyone. You can make more money if you put out your own videos on a website—especially your own website—because, you can monetize every time someone watches, downloads or buys a video. When you shoot for a company, you usually only get paid once. I think that’s the same for a lot of people. When I was shooting, I also didn’t have an agent, so I didn’t have to deal with them getting a cut or any drama related to that. But, for the most part, a lot of us can make a lot more money doing our own thing using Snapchat, selling used items, selling merch and stuff like that.
The recent FOSTA/SESTA debacle, in addition to other unfriendly attitudes toward adult entertainers on social media, has generated some legitimate complaints from performers. What is your approach to social media?
I’ve had my Snapchat deleted before—I had no idea as to why. As far as Instagram goes, there’s a whole bunch of rules that you have to follow, in order to not get deleted. It’s unfair that some people get away with not following those rules, but I always tell people that you can’t just ignore the rules and then complain when you get deleted. That’s how it goes. Some people can post way worse things and not get deleted—and, I don’t understand it—but, I try to follow all the rules.
What are some ways to monetize your social media accounts?
You can add a link to a Snapchat Premium on your Instagram account. I’m also in the process of building my own website up, so when I have that, I’ll have the domain name and everyone will be able to get everything in one place. It will have multiple parts, with a section to purchase used items of clothing, a section for merchandise, a clip store where you can buy individual clips and a section that is membership-based, with a monthly fee that allows you to see everything I upload and get exclusive content, as well.
Have you embraced the "library girl" title or are you sick of it by now?
I’ve definitely embraced it. A lot of people, they tell me all the time that I’ve built something more than just that, but I accept that I’ll always be known as "library girl." I’ve definitely trademarked my own name, as well.
How, if at all, has your sex life changed or improved since becoming an adult star?
I don’t really know if it’s the fact that I’ve been in the industry for a while, or maybe that I’ve just grown up, but I definitely like it more rough than before. It could be a factor of things, but I feel I’ve evolved as I’ve gotten older, changed and explored my sexuality to try different things.
Do you have any tips for other entertainers, looking to follow in your footsteps?
I don’t think anyone’s perfect and I definitely don’t have my own shit together whatsoever (laughs), but a lot of girls need to realize that they have a lot more power in themselves and that they can do all these things (Snapchat, videos, websites) to be the boss of their own content and own it. Maybe, they’re feeling like they’re a slave to an agent, or that, if they can’t find a company, they can’t land a shoot. But, people need to realize that you can own everything and make it a huge success story that way. You’ve got to just try and put yourself out there.
As far as being Oregon local, how do clubs vary from area-to-area, outside of ours?
Every club is different. I’ve been in clubs where there really aren’t any rules and I’ve been to clubs where I’m not allowed to do basically anything—I’ll be up on a stage, away from customers, not allowed to be naked. But, I make the most of everything, because I’m getting paid to be there regardless, so I really don’t care if I go up and no one is there. So, I just go with the flow. There really isn’t much to my show (laughs), I just bounce around and shake my titties, so I just go with the flow.
How has it been, becoming famous almost overnight, with small town roots?
I feel that I’ve gotten to meet a lot of really influential people. There’s music that I would listen to or movies that I would watch when I was younger, not even thinking that one day I might meet these people. And, then, here they are. It’s crazy to me, how awesome life is.
Why hasn’t Oregon State given you a bench or a plaque in your honor yet?
Uptight students would probably complain about it, so they wouldn’t be able to do it.
So, nothing’s new on the college front. Back to the industry stuff—you’ve done a lot of interviews, but folks, myself included, seem to always ask about the same topics. Is there anything that you’re not usually asked about, that you’d like to address?
There’s not a lot that I haven’t been asked, but there is something that I’m sick of getting asked about: I feel like it’s ridiculous, but people always ask me "how my family feels" and the reality is that my family is super awesome. I’m lucky and fortunate to have such a big family that supports me. It’s kind of irritating when people ask about my family like that, because it’s kind of implying that they should feel some type of way, because of what I do with my body and with my life. It’s crazy to me. If I met someone and they were telling me about how shitty their work is, how much they hate their boss, how they don’t have enough money to go on vacations or do what they want, I wouldn’t be like, "Oh, how does your family feel about it?" I’m just sitting here enjoying my life. Plus, I think I’m a really awesome person and that’s why my family loves me, ya know (laughs). But, they’re just really cool and they don’t see a reason to stop me from my job. Like, folks expect my family to make me feel like crap about what I do. When, in reality, I feel it should be the opposite. If you hate your work, never have any money for extra things and are exhausted from working all the time, then don’t you think you should change something about that? How does your family feel, that you’re basically slaving away for nothing, ya know?
Meanwhile, you’re buying your little brother a new phone with money you made doing something you enjoy.
I tell my brother all the time—because he’s at that age where kids can be tease-y and think that it’s funny—that we wouldn’t be able to do all these awesome things, like having him come visit me, going to Disneyland, getting him new shoes...it’s crazy to me, that people would make fun of him for that. How can they say anything about what I do, when I’m able to do all these awesome things for him? I wish I had a sibling like me, when I was younger. He’s spoiled (laughs). It’s just the way that people think things are supposed to go—like, we’re supposed to go to school and get a degree—but, all my family is super supportive and I can’t complain.
I can guarantee you that you’re making more money than anyone else who’s been in the Oregon State University library. Do you think that adult entertainment is becoming more accepted, as a legitimate form of employment and a respectable lifestyle?
Shit, I should hope that it’s going that way! But, sometimes I worry, with the way that people troll on the internet and the things they say. I sure hope, though, that it’s going toward society being more accepting. Hopefully, one day, people won’t see what we do as such a bad thing and I’ll be able to branch out and do other things without people hating. But, to be honest, I’m not sure where the world is going sometimes.
So, who has the better weed, Oregon or Cali?
Hard to say. I definitely like going to dispensaries in Oregon more. Last time I went to Homegrown Oregon, there was a puppy kissing booth. I love that place.
They were also giving away free pizza last week.
Puppies and pizza...stoners love it. I love BBQ chicken pizza with pineapple.
Now, that may be the most controversial thing you’ve said in this interview...the pineapple on pizza.
Yeah? I stand by it!
Now, I would ask how your family feels about THAT.
We’re half-and-half. I think my sisters like it, but my brothers don’t. We’re a divided family on the pineapple pizza issue.
So, there you have it. The real controversy in the Sunderland household has nothing to do with Kendra’s choice of career. A family that, while supportive of their daughter’s work in the industry, is divided over the pineapple-on-pizza debate.
Catch Kendra Sunderland at Exxxotica Expo, June 7, 8 and 9, happening at the Portland Expo Center. In addition to Kendra, there will be dozens and dozens of top-tier adult performers, booths, speakers, DJs, clown strippers (B.J. McNaughty) and all sorts of awesome shit. Exotic will have a booth, so you can meet the fine folks behind this publication. Plus, yours truly will be doing panels that relate to being a strip club DJ, so come heckle me. Tickets and info are online at ExxxoticaExpo.com.
THU 2—SPYCE GENTLEMEN’S CLUB—POLEROTICA QUALIFIER ROUND 5
SAT 4—DEVILS POINT—6TH ANNUAL STAR WARS PARTY
SAT 4—GUILTY PLEASURES—DJ DICK HENNESSY’S MOTORBOOTY ROUND 1
SUN 5—CABARET, GUILTY PLEASURES—CINCO DE MAYO PARTY
FRI 10—XPOSE—DJ DICK HENNESSY’S MOTORBOOTY ROUND 2
SAT 11—GUILTY PLEASURES—POLEROTICA QUALFIER ROUND 6
FRI 17—REVEAL LOUNGE—XXX FEATURE PORNSTAR LEIGH RAVEN
FRI 17—THE VENUE—DJ DICK HENNESSY’S MOTORBOOTY ROUND 3
SAT 18—XPOSE—XXX FEATURE PORNSTAR LEIGH RAVEN
THU 23—CLUB SINROCK—DJ DICK HENNESSY’S MOTORBOOTY FINALS
FRI 24—DANTE’S—POLEROTICA FINALS
SAT 25—CHEETAHS CABARET (SALEM)—DJ DICK HENNESSY’S 7TH ANNUAL BOTTOMLESS PARTY & HYPNOX / MADDI RAY’S BIRTHDAY
FRI 31—TOMMY’S TOO—DAISY DUKE CONTEST
