HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—Amidst the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, the best of the best in the adult industry gathered to celebrate themselves and the nominees for the 2017 AVN Awards.
AVN Media Network announced this year’s nominations at what has become an annual party at Avalon Nightclub, located at the famed Hollywood and Vine intersection.
Performer Jessa Rhodes served as the hostess of the party, which was sponsored by MyFreeCams.com. In addition to the nominees in more than 100 categories, AVN also announced 2017 AVN Awards Trophy Girls, Uma Jolie and Gina Valentina.
“My head exploded when AVN asked me to be a part of this night,” Rhodes said before the festivities started. “I was so excited I think I screamed! I have been wanting to work with AVN for a long, long time and it’s such an honor to be here.”
The 34th annual AVN Awards are slated for Jan. 21, in The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. The ceremony, often referred to as “the Oscars of Porn,” will be sponsored by Chaturbate and MyFreeCams and hosted by Riley Reid and Aspen Rae.
Hundreds of performers, directors, studio owners and more were on hand for the evening, which kicked off with a red carpet, open bar and hors d’oeuvres before Rhodes took the stage. A natural on the stage, Rhodes offered a few tips for nominees, including preparing a speech in case they wi.
“It will be the one time where people care about what is coming out of your mouth instead of what is going in it,” she quipped.
Jolie and Valentina also took the stage, showing off their skills at carrying the AVN trophy from each side of the stage, before announcing the nominees in the categories of Male Performer of the Year and Best Actress.
AVN Media Network CEO Tony Rios thanked everyone for attending, and acknowledged the hard work of many in the industry—specifically the Free Speech Coalition and the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee—for their hard work during the recent election campaign to defeat Prop 60. He then listed off the nominees in several categories, including Best Boy-Girl Sex Scene, Best Oral Sex Scene, Best Actor and Female Performer of the Year.
Rounding out the categories and nominees announced on stage during the event were Reid and Rae, who listed the nominees for Best Gonzo Release, Best Director, Best Parody and Best Drama.
Rapper Ty Dolla $ign performed a set to close out the official portion of the AVN Awards Nominations Party, as industry veterans and newcomers mingled, partied and congratulated each other on their achievements.
“It’s so much fun to have a night like there, where you get to interact with people you might not see as often as you like,” reigning AVN Awards BBW Performer of the Year Karla Lane told AVN. “And there’s an open bar, so you can’t go wrong with that!”
Abella Danger admitted she was not looking forward to giving up her title of AVN Awards Best New Starlet, but the night ended on a high note as she earned several nominations, including Female Performer of the Year.
“It’s really sad, because I don’t want to give up my title, but I am really hopeful for everyone and hope everyone is really happy with the outcome of the nominations tonight,” she said.
Performer and director Alex Chance was one of many who expressed gratitude at being able to celebrate the nominations for the biggest awards show in adult with other industry members.
“It’s really awesome that AVN has been throwing this party for the past few years,” she said. “It really means a lot.”
For a complete list of nominees for the 2017 AVN Awards, visit AVNAwards.com.
