An Elegant Angel tradition since 2008, every year the studio brings together some of the top talent in the business—and this year’s roster covers almost half of AVN’s 2015 nominees for Female Performer of the Year. As directed by Dreadneck, POTY 2015 may lack the epic teases that elevated earlier volumes in the series, but as compensation fans get to know these seven top performers in leisurely interviews. One major topic of conversation is their feelings about how they made it to the top of the adult industry heap—followed by high-energy sex scenes that show those skills in action.

Up first is Dahlia Sky, who talks about coming into the Elegant Angel office for the first time and seeing the company’s posters on the wall. Now she’s part of the quintessential Elegant showcase for the first time, doing a scene with top stud Ramon Nomar in an all-white room on a white ottoman in front of a fireplace framed by two guitars. Nomar goes on to play her body like an instrument in an anal scene that ends with him crouching like a deranged monkey, banging her ass wildly—yet when he pulls out for the pop shot, he delivers it neatly on her outstretched tongue.

Also going the anal route is A.J. Applegate, who does the last scene on the DVD. As Applegate says, “The best part of my body would probably be my ass.” She giggles, “Probably everyone would say that. It’s just really bubbly and fun and big and juicy ... and it gets dick in it a lot.”

A third juicy ass is that of AVN’s reigning Female Performer of the Year, Anikka Albrite. Musing on her success, the sunny blonde says, “My favorite part of my body is my smile. … Other people would also say my ass. Definitely I’d have to say my ass made me famous.” Her nether region remains unbreached here, but Albrite adds diversity to the title by doing an IR scene with Prince Yahshua.

The other performers are showcased in girl/girl scenes. One’s a natural combo: Bonnie Rotten and Skin Diamond, both articulate, artfully inked and playfully kinky. They do a tease on the rooftop of a hillside mansion and then head inside for some fun on a couch upholstered in silver vinyl—the better to withstand Rotten’s squirting. “I forgot how good your tongue feels,” Diamond moans. Clearly they both agree with Diamond’s assessment of porn fame: “It is a job, but our business is pleasure. So what’s the point if you’re not getting off on it?”

Maddy O’Reilly and Romi Rain are a study in contrasts, but it turns out to be a coupling that really works. Both are open in their interviews, revealing what they think fans like about them, and how they get turned on themselves. O’Reilly describes herself as “this girl next door that likes to get on camera and go completely nuts … fans love it.” Rain says she’s known for her fellatio skills, the result of an oral fixation—which O’Reilly benefits from as Rain goes down on her with vigor.

Though it’s primarily the caliber of the performers that earns this title high marks, other attributes add appeal. The sets are gorgeous and the girls look great, with long manes and lithe bodies in appealing lingerie. The pairings all work well, and everybody brings their A game … or should that be X?