The 2023 AVN Awards and Expo

History was made at the 2023 AVN Awards, and it could not have come at a better time. Wars overseas. The cost of living reached LA numbers in Kansas. Let's not forget about the COVID-19 pandemic that kept this grandiose event virtual for the better part of two years. So much was lost during that time. I believe that is what propelled the people in charge at AVN to create an event that was more than unforgettable. What we should talk about is this expo and its return to beautiful Las Vegas. How so many people doubted the company's successful return, and the change coming that is way overdue in the world of adult entertainment. A small part of it was going to take place from January fourth through the seventh, 2023. Kira Noir became the first African-American performer to take home the coveted Female Performer of the Year trophy. Ricky Greenwood is a director who has been overlooked in years past. He took home the coveted prize of Grand Reel, and the world discovered that our performers were not just artists in front of the camera, but behind the writer’s desk with Maitland Ward. Speaking of writers, it will be this Fleshbot poet who will not only take you behind the scenes for this history-making event. But will give you the most in-depth look at what it is like to get a nomination, and live the life that a porn star does during all the festivities.

2023 AVN Female Performer of the Year, Kira Noir

Porn stars are the life of the party. Any follower of pop culture can tell you that. What you may not know, is that they are people who will give you the shirt off their backs. Or, the last fifty dollars in their pocket. I have seen both gestures of heartfelt giving with my own two eyes over the years covering this event in Las Vegas. Those gestures are what I believe fueled this return to glory. This return to the living. Chemically composed by a group of people who were stuck in their own manmade dungeons for the past two years. AVN did the best it could during the pandemic. Offering a virtual show to the fans. Offering a view they had not been privy to in the past. You always had to buy a ticket to see the show, and rightfully so. Previous years saw Angela White make XXX history, and Kayden Kross become one of the most respected directors in the great land that coined the phrase “full frontal.” Yes, things would no longer be taking place at the iconic Hard Rock Hotel. But, that did not mean that this year's event did not have the potential to set a new standard in the hearts of fans and industry associates alike. That is what this writer is going to report to you on. The bare naked truth about the 2023 version of the AVN Awards, of one of the most iconic shows in the world. Hell, it is referred to as the “Oscars of Porn,” is it not?

Alexis Fawx

Opening Night at the 2023 AVN Awards:

The entrance into the Vegas strip was pure chaos upon my arrival. Depending on where you got off, Harry Reid can be every bit as crazy as LAX. But, come on. The hassle is always worth every ounce of stress when it comes to Las Vegas. No matter how you approached that first night of the convention, traffic was at a standstill. This reporter could not be happier, for that means fans were coming out of the woodwork to join the celebration. Industry personnel can tell you, every year there is a rumor that people are not going to show up. That the event is going to feel like you are working in a ghost town. Tell that to April Olsen and Alexis Fawx, the first colleagues I ran into at the convention. Both looked better than I had ever seen them. That cowgirl outfit of April’s and those fishnets reeling in the worn by Alexis Fawx. It just does not get any bigger or better. Both women told me how much they loved seeing the crowds. How much fun they were having and it was a genuine joy they expressed. These are two performers who never blow smoke up someone’s ass. They are superstars who would tell it to you straight. Especially if they were not having the time of their lives. The line at the Brazzers booth just brought a smile to my face that evening. Just as much as seeing my old friend Angela White at the end of the night. This was just as I was getting my press credentials, and trying to squeeze in as much coverage as I could in the last three hours of day one. There was no shortage of people. No shortage of superstars. Just a chain of wonderful surprises that seemed to have no end. Much like the surprise venue's size.

Chantal Danielle

The AVN Awards Venue:

Resorts World split the convention into this great walk amongst the stars. There was a side build for the agents. The other was the production companies. In between was a very well-designed press room. Run by one of the best in the business. Peppered in was a rest area for the performers. A toys and novelties room for everyone who wanted to take home some swag. No other convention in the world can live up to the accolades of being able to buy a sex toy, with the next person in line possibly being a porn star. That was AVN Awards 2023 bay-bay. That is the hype that can be duplicated nowhere else. Especially within a venue that no one thought possible. I take my hat off to the Hilton group. This convention is a staple of Americana. Enjoyed by people across the country. I saw flags and followers from both coasts, and they were enjoying the restaurants and bars, just as much as the beautiful men and women signing autographs. Performers of the Year were everywhere. Motley Models had them coming out every other hour. My breath was stolen so many times by Serene Siren. I lost count of how many steps I took around Resorts World. I doubt anyone complained about the pain of a 4K porn walk.

2022 Girl/Girl Performer of the Year Serene Siren

The gay side of the arena was great. So many studs to choose from, and that brought me to meet some of the most passionate, and charismatic fans in the industry. It was bliss to sit and talk with the fans who enjoy gay porn. They are as rambunctious and wonderful as the performers they follow. Speaking of performers, and all things massive. One can not shy away from the mega booth that was Vixen. A store, a booth, a club to shake your ass in. Complete with red rope and black-suited security. This was one of the coolest fucking ideas I had ever seen at an AVN Awards expo. Yes, security does make a difference. Ask any A-list star in the business. The Vixen crew had a style that I have not seen in ages. Complete with the very books that took home Maitland Ward a trophy of her own a few days later for the best mainstream venture. Let me put it this way. Only in a swank LA nightclub, would you be able to listen to music, and dance with stars like Vicki Chase and Vanna Bardot. That is what was being created at the Vixen booth. That party went on all week long. When Maitland Ward took me behind the red rope for a hug, it was surreal to see the fans the Vixen gals did all week long. It was glamorous. It was full of hype, and it lived up to every inch of it. The bar will now be set for 2024.

Vicki Chase & Maitland Ward

Behind The Scenes at the AVN Awards:

Part two of this tale goes like this. Don Juan DeMarko is now a producer. So, it is only fitting that I go out amongst my porn brothers and sisters, looking to find characters that fit my scripts. I had my mind on MILF superstar Reagan Foxx from the moment my plane touched down in Las Vegas. But, a producer's job is more than that. Porn is all about finding the “next big thing.” All of the entertainment industry is. Discovering that all the big players within the industry would be having massive booths. It was this content creator's dream come true. The Motley Models made their presence felt. With their award-winning line-up of hotties. To stay true to Don Juan’s “bottom line.” The booth that really caught my eye was OC Modeling. Sandra and Anthony brought out all the big guns. From MILF to newbie. Dee Williams and Syren De Mer were tantalizing audience members in the early rounds of the convention. Ember Snow and new starlet Honey Hayes played clean-up duties on the second shift. I am talking about power here, people. Just like a clean-up hitter in baseball. Each aisle and corridor led to these lengthy walks, and it was beautiful women and men as far as thee I could see! Coxxx Models and Charlie Comet greeted every fan and industry member alike, as they entered that part of the show. What a great move it was on AVN’s part to put these amazing folks as the meet-and-greet leaders. They showed off what it is like to live, and party like a porn star. It made fans feel loose. It gave others the courage to go on. Attending a porn convention is a lot to take in. Getting to meet your fantasies in the flesh is overwhelming. I don’t care if you're Richard the accountant, or Richard Dreyfus the actor. Both fans of the XXX film world can tell you I speak the truth.

Ember Snow

As the days went on, I found it wondrous to find many of my old friends hiding amongst their fellow stars. Tiffany Watson, Jillian Janson, and Liv Revamped. I even got to give a hug to the greatest natural boobs in the business. Who happens to also be one of my best buddies in the world. Jessica Ryan. All of these ladies were showing off their growth as performers and businesswomen. Walking among the fans, doing the things they love in the business. Which is becoming a bigger and bigger trend within the expos. You need to keep your eyes open as a fan. You may actually have a porn star following you around. Looking to catch a glimpse of the beauty within this industry as well. Again, no convention in the world can claim to offer such an in-depth experience. I was able to find my friend Reagan Foxx. Share a drink with her, and offer her a script idea that I know her agent is going to flip over. I must be candid in this response. As I am being paid to write about what this convention really was to me. To all sides of who Don Juan DeMarko is. The producer in me, the scriptwriter. It felt as if I were inside DaVinci’s studio. All I could see around me was the inspiration. All I could see were performers bringing their own camera crews, setting up shoots for their OnlyFans, and making new friends wandering the convention floor. Fans, what you got to see, was porn being made at the genesis level. Watching how performers catch the others' eye and begin that ritual of arousal, that leads to the best entertainment on earth.

Lauren Phillips, Linzee Ryder, Riley Kay, Lily Craven, Don Juan DeMarko, and Miles Long

The Parties:

The combination of coverage and celebration took me with my porn brother to celebrate his, and our nominations. The great Miles Long. Our party rocked the art district of Las Vegas unlike any other. If you were lucky, you got to meet Aubrey Black, Lauren Phillips, Linzee Ryder, and Lily Craven. This is the bonus side of AVN that is not always advertised. It is not the biggest secret in the world that you can party with porn stars during AVN. Hell, Victoria Voxxx and Mike Quasar were putting on a fucking rock concert for Christ’s sake. That should tell you that the parties were outrageous. Even the ones that were being thrown in Resorts World. The venue felt like it had a million bars. “Circle Bar” was my favorite. At least that is what I came to call it in my stead. My boss even called it “Superman’s layer.” You just can not duplicate an experience where you could smoke inside. Ash your cigarette into an empty glass of whiskey, and never get thrown out of the joint like a fucking bum. I won’t say that there were no rules. But the atmosphere in Vegas made it that much more fun. Especially when you are sharing a drink with the great Shay Sights. From the White Party to the after-awards festivities, that massive resort was always rocking. Just as much as my bedroom suite that housed the up-and-coming MILF superstar Lily Craven. Yes, porn stars party too. Our suite was filled with so many antics and stories. Perhaps I will write a book just about that someday. Until then, you have to make sure to experience this yourself as a porn fan. This is our Mecca. Our holy ground that we choose to defecate on, and laugh about it after. That is what AVN was in 2023. A place where you can escape from the world. A place where you can talk about politics both inside and outside the industry/ All without fear of being shamed. A place where you can truly be you. Because I saw all walks of life within this convention. Older couples. Grungy surfers and skaters. The timid, the shy. The bold and the beautiful. I think it is about time the truth was told about this convention, and how many things people do know exist within it. I challenge you all to come out and meet me there next year. If only so you can try and prove me wrong. Be forewarned, you may enter this heaven and forever be changed by its freedom. Discovering that your neighbor also booked a trip themselves. Enjoying the same things you do. Opening up a new era of conversation and acceptance. That is what AVN is behind the scenes.

Kenzie Taylor

The AVN Awards:

As each day went on, more and more fans showed up. Looking to see the wonders of ATMLA. Looking to see what superstar will show up next at the Jules Jordan booth. Kenzie Taylor is the hug that I will never forget. It was elbow to elbow by expos close. That is what ushered in the red carpet. Yes, there was only meant to be about seven-hundred stars walking this passion-colored floor decor. My count was well over one thousand. That is how much talent lies within the industry. As an award-nominated producer with Miles Long, I was on pins and needles waiting to hear if we could have somehow pulled the upset. I don’t know if the powers that be know this, but the performers care about the trophies they receive. It gives them validation and proves their hard work is not in vain. It is what gives them validity as Hollywood actors. You watch a starlet like Anna Claire Clouds win for Best Three-Way Sex Scene, and tell me that she does not care. Our night ended with a loss. But we lost to the greatest of all time, Angela White, and there is no shame in that. It took me and Lily Craven on adventures in China Town. Filled with Saki Bombs and so many plates of sushi I lost count. That is how the event ended for so many people I know. A big blowout that was bigger than the hosting hotel-casino. With so many people pleasantly surprised. Planning to make a return next year. Nothing will match that moment of watching Kira Noir win. It showed the world that we are an industry of depth and courage. That we are a group of souls who want to make a change within the confines of our own space. Inspiring others to do the same. If only within themselves. This was the year that sexuality grew. That it again found its way into the mainstream eye and wrote a place for itself within the history books. Not just the logs of pop culture.