I’ve always been little. I’m one of the girls who started that trend with black women. After me came Lacey Duvalle and others. At first little girls weren’t really in. All the other girls were thicker. I know that there had to be a market for a classy, black girl. I didn’t see somebody like me. If they are doing it one way (I thought) what if I come off a different way that they haven’t seen yet. I’m always looking nice. My hair and nails are done. That’s just everyday stuff that you are supposed to do anyway. Looking around there’s not a lot of women like that.

B&B: Did it feel awkward when people would approach you like a celebrity?
India: Should I say that name? Yeah I can say it because he’ll be okay with it…Samuel L Jackson. I met him in Jamba Juice. This was awhile back. I approached him like “I’m sorry, I usually don’t do this but you are my favorite actor” and he said “I don’t do this but you’re my favorite actress.” It kind of broke the ice and we started laughing. I have had so many celebrities be like “India!” That’s why I say porn has become so commercial because they all know me. This career has gotten me far – even with my music. It has opened so many doors for me that I thought would be closed. I thought that once you do porn, it’s a wrap. I’m seeing that it’s not true.

B&B: There’s a lot of people that will come out and say “she’s disrespecting herself” what do you have to say to that?
India: To each his own. I don’t care about what you do. It’s really about whatever makes you happy. You can have your opinion and you are entitled to it. I did this for me. Not for anybody else. Nobody forced me to do porn. I’m not crying on my pillow at night. I thought about all the circumstances that come with this industry – the good and the bad. I know that I won’t ever be able to run for president. Certain things I can never do because of porn. I’ve weighed my options. I don’t care what they say. I have a lot to show for what I’ve done and I’m good with it.

B&B: What’s it like being a black woman in this industry? I’ve heard grumblings from other black women who don’t get paid like white women. What’s the deal?
India: It’s just like Hollywood. Take a look at the Oscars. What do we have? One or two black people nominated and very few win. It’s no different. Porn deals with the same race issues but on a smaller scale. It’s not surprising to me.

B&B: Have you personally dealt with any racism in your career?
India: Funny enough, I haven’t dealt with anything like that. I’ve been managed by a person with all white girls and me being the only black girl. One of my girls was my close friend and she told me her rates and what they told her to do and my rate was just a little less so I said no. If I don’t get what she gets then I’m not doing it. I don’t play that. Some of the black girls fall for it. They will say “you know what, I need it so I’ll do anything.” I don’t play that. I get paid the same as any other girl out there – sometimes a little more. If you want to underpay me and I go for it then that’s my problem. Some of these black girls get $600 for an anal scene while a white girl can get two to three times as much for the same thing. The black girl may do the seen better but she cheated herself.

B&B: So you think there are a lot of misguided girls in the industry?
India: There’s a lot of them. When you act hungry in any industry, people are going to get you. Some of these girls have managers. I don’t want to name any names but their managers undercut them too. We, as black women, need to step up in this industry and learn to say no. It’s not just about taking off your clothes. It’s a business and you have to learn how the business goes.

B&B: What made you leave the game?
India: Because I wanted to pursue my music. Doing porn and music was just too much.

B&B: A lot of people, including the ones reading this interview, are going to say “Awwww…she’s going to do music now? Stay in your lane…”
India: Yeah, people do say that but I came from music, not from porn. But because people know me from porn they think that is my lane. But my lane began singing in church choir when I was young. Music is my love no matter what I’ve done in my life.

B&B: How the hell do relationships work for you being in porn as well as being retired?
India: I’ve been married actually. But when I was married I got out of the business for two years. Being married and staying in the business doesn’t really work for me. When I was in that type of commitment, I had to remove myself from this industry and dedicate myself to my marriage. The marriage didn’t work out so I decided to come back to the business. You are going to have men say that they can deal with it but they really can’t. Now that I’m not in the business it’s a bit different. Now I can talk to guys and its different because I’m not doing that anymore. But when you are, it’s difficult to come home and have your guy ask you “How was your day babe?” He doesn’t really want to know. Continued on page 3 »