LAS VEGAS—This is it. The night of the AVN Awards. In the elevator down to the main floor (helpfully marked CASINO on the double-wide elevator button) Hall of Famer Micky Lynn says to me, "We're here, we're healthy—that's what counts." In the hallway I meet up with Lilly Bell and the Spiegler Girls contingent. "I'm excited," she says. (photo galleries)
The Gauntlet stretches from The Theater through the casino floor to the Harmon entrance. I see Katie Morgan parallelling the path behind the crowd: "I'll see you inside, I'm sneakin' in," she says with a conspiratorial grin. Circling back to The Theater I see Milan Ponjevic, dapper in a tuxedo. "Good luck tonight," I tell him, shaking his hand ... Dammit, I should have said "Break a leg." Hope I didn’t jinx it ... Anna Claire Clouds, new Hall of Fame honorees Paul and Tracy Allen. Vince Karter introduces me to Best New Starlet nominee Ivy Ireland. I tell her, "Break a leg tonight." ... Kyaa Chimera tells me her name reflects that "I have many aspects, Dom to dirty slut" ... Siouxsie Q in a dress with the 14th Amendment silk-screened on it. Lexi Luna. At the Red Carpet, I see Bree Mills in a tux. Catch up with Millie Morgan. Zac Wild tells me this was the first year he's had his own booth, "and it is the most fun I've had out of the eight years I've been in this industry."
"Max [Fills] is nominated for Best Leading actor. That's a big one, I've really seen his acting range explode this year," Hailey Rose tells me.
"It's a big dramatic role. I'm used to doing comedy, tongue-in-cheek stuff," Fills says. "She was nominated for Best Double Team, Best Threesome —"
"And Best Tease," Rose adds. "The Tease one was for Jonni Darkko, and the Double Team was with Max and Jules Jordan. We put a lot of heart, and cum, and liquids into that scene. We destroyed a rug. It was really fun. We were also nominated for Fan Favorite Couple, and Best Tits. I'm really hoping to win a Best Tits Award. That's a tough competition."
I agree, pointing out that two Best New Starlet nominees are also in that category—they mentioned it at their panel—before I turn my gaze below her clavicle. "Good luck, girls."
I see Gal Ritchie, thank her for the "Don't fucking cry" quote from Thursday's Best New Starlet panel. She hadn’t seen the story, so I pull it up on my phone for her to read as I catch up with Kira Noir and hear her give Ritchie a quick tutorial on her post-boob-job care regimen.
Inside The Theater, I notice the giant cymbals are still on the ceiling, a relic of the Hard Rock days. I see Tee Reel and introduce myself to non-sex actor Daniel Shar. By the bar, I see Texas Patti, Shay Sights, Penny Barber. A would-be male talent buttonholes me, asks me how to get into the business. I give him the New Guy Lecture. I've got it down to two minutes now... I chat with Ken Feels, see Sarah Arabic. Leya Falcon is in a strapless dress with a massive mesh skirt: "I’m the most beautiful loofa here. I'll clean you up and leave you soft!"
As I chat with Dan Miller, Anna Claire Clouds walks by on her way to the auditorium, rapt in conversation. "Walked right by me," I observe.
"Me too," Dan grins.
The security guy reads my credential, says my seat is in the balcony. I make a note to Have Words with Peter Warren and head upstairs on the long escalator. From up there, I see people walking up onto the edge of the stage, posing for pictures. It's fun to try and figure out who is posing from hair, dress, body language. I spot Vanna Bardot and think I spotted Nicole Kitt. Peter Warren stands in front of the stage, chatting with Codey Steele. Ricky Greenwood in conversation with Penny Barber. A friend tells me that he noticed people had been gathering in groups on the Red Carpet: "Vixen, Spiegler, Brazzers ... "
"Which group was Angela White in?"
"Spiegler."
The Awards show starts at 9:30, with Wiz Khalifa and comic Brittany Schmitt. First Award goes to Kylie Rocket, who exults, "This is my first time up here!" ... Tommy Pistol gets a massive ovation for winning Best Leading Actor, and he dedicates his award to "all the crews that make all these movies happen, that don't get enough love. The make-up artists, the PAs, the lighting, the cinematographer, to all the directors. You all need a raise! Love to all of you. And thank you so much."
Jennifer White is visibly moved winning Star Showcase, pointing out it was her first award before name-checking the entire crew: "This showcase means the absolute world to me ... We fucking did it!" ... Mike Quasar approaches the stage, arms raised triumphantly, when Her Best Friend’s Dad is named Outstanding Comedy: "In 32 years, I have failed. I was hoping for 33, but not tonight! I've been doing this job a long time and this feels good, finally. Thank you very much!" ... MILF Performer of the Year Lexi Luna—another first-time winner—observes, "My titties are falling out of this dress all night, and it's so worth it" ... An ad featuring AI-generated performers gets roundly booed ... Ariel Demure, winning Best Trans Acting Performance for Transpirella: "The orgy will be in my hotel room later, it’s sponsored by Olive Garden." ... I'm relieved when Milan Ponjevic wins Best Boy/Girl Sex Scene with Chanel Camryn. I didn’t jinx him ...
After the ceremony, I head up to the Winners Lounge, Lilly Bell enthuses, "I won for Best Solo/Tease Performance and the Performers of the Year all-girl orgy, which was epic. It was such an good orgy, with such amazing ladies. It's an honor. I’m very, very happy. It's my first win! And I got two of 'em. I've been able to go up on stage as being a part of a winning situation, but I've never had an actual win on my own. It's really exciting. Now I've got some gold hardware."
"My second time on stage, and with the same person," Milan Ponjevic tells me.
"It's so unexpected, truly, but I couldn’t be happier," Jennifer White says. "I put a lot of work into that movie, and I want to do it again. I want to top this year. It's a tall order, but I'm willing to do it."
"It's always a thrill," Seth Gamble says. "The two awards I won tonight, I've never won. It's awesome. I never won a gangbang award, I never won a d.p. award. I'm just excited. I'm excited to be here. I love this business. My movies had a lot of nominations and so many of my friends won. I want to give a shout-out to Jennifer White. I'm grateful I got a chance to play a little part in her success tonight. She deserves it, more than most people I've met in this industry, and I'm so happy for her. That's the biggest win of my night, seeing Jennifer White take what she took."
Octavia Red was also picking up her award for Best All-Girl Group Sex Scene from Performers of the Year 2025. "Winning is a very surreal feeling. It doesn’t hit me until maybe a week later." Do you want me to get back to you in a week? "Yes. Get back to me in a week. Put that in your calendar. I'll give you a well-rounded answer."
Sage Roux was picking up his award for Best VR Trans Sex Scene for a scene with Aubrey Kate. "It's surreal. I can't believe it actually happened. I need it in hand to believe it." Brittany Andrews: "I won for Niche/Specialty Performer of the Year, which means I do weird shit. And well. I used to get nominated for, like, everything, in my youth, before I retired. But I never won anything. Now I don’t get nominated for many things, but the things I do [get nominated for], I end up winning. It's kinda weird. I'm not complaining."
"It's pretty cool, winning an acting award," Best Supporting Actor winner Ken Feels said. "I acted when I was younger, so it's nice to use those skills." Best International Anal Sex Scene winner Rebel Rhyder: "I wasn't expecting it at all. I was surprised, but I was happy because I didn't need to give a speech."
"I won for Best Indie/Amateur Movie or Series for Sexual Activity," Peter King from Dirty Cinema said. "It's a take on the film Paranormal Activity, with, obviously, sexual elements. I learned a dead language, Acadian, to help write the script, and I spent a lot of time in research in the making of the lore as authentic as possible. I'm so, so, so happy I was able to walk away with something."
"I'm shocked. I'm honored, I'm blessed. I'm honestly at a loss for words," Aubrey Kate said. "I worked my ass off and it showed, and it's so nice to be recognized for that. I won five tonight, and a big muscular man to help me carry them."
Girthmasterr picked up his award for Favorite Independent Male Creator. "I got it last year, so back-to-back wins means I'm doing something right."
"Joanna Angel always teased me, because I only won an AVN Award for writing as a co-writer with her," Shawn Alff said, waiting to collect his award for Best Screenplay for Strip. "She said I could never win it by myself. This was me attempting to prove Joanna Angel wrong."
"You guys caught me by surprise," Ricky Greenwood says. "I was preparing a speech for Deadly Vows. The guy says Strip and I had nothing prepared."
"I have one already, and I'm picking up for a three-way with Xxlayna Marie, Jules Jordan and myself," Zac Wild tells me. "I'm always surprised. I should have made Male Performer of the Year. I come to set natural as can be, I'm hydrated, I'm healthy, and the girls don't ever have to think. I position them to show them off like the trophy that they are. It's my job to make sure they look as amazing as possible. They shouldn’t have to do anything... except cum. That's the most important thing."
"I'm so stoked. We just won Fan Favorite Couple," Hailey Rose says. "Fucking amazing. I didn’t expect it this year. It's such an honor. I love doing porn, so this is amazing."
"It's really poetic that our first AVN Award was together," Max Fills adds. "Our first Brazzers scene was together, and now our first AVN Award is together. That's so fucking cool."
"I'm so proud of all the work we've done, and I can't wait to do more," Rose concludes.
W.C. Walker won Best Featurette for Wouldn't Hurt a Fly: "I was super surprised. It's my first directing win."
As I leave the Winner's Lounge, I run into Angela White in the casino. "I won for Favorite Female Porn Star, Most Spectacular Boobs, All-Girl Collab, and Hottest Boy/Girl Collab. I have to thank my fans, again, for these incredible wins. My fans are so dedicated, and so loyal. They turn out for me in droves every single year," she added, in a tone of amazement. "I give so much of my attention to each fan when they get to the front of the line. There could be a fire and I wouldn't know. I try to make each fan feel special. They continue to support me in so many different ways. They make everything possible."
I tell Angela that at the Best New Starlet Panel, two nominees said they were up for the Most Spectacular Boobs fan award, and Hailey Rose also told me she was nominated earlier this evening, and now I'm talking to the winner, neatly capping off the week.
On my way back to my room at 3 a.m., I run into Peter Warren. I confront him about the seating snafu, and he examines my credential. "This is a General Admission floor seat," he says, poking it with his finger. "Here's the section, here's the row. That guy didn’t know what he was talking about."
Damn it.
Photography by Mari Blue & Rick Garcia
For the complete winners list, click here.
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