Mia Khalifa explains why she decided to quit the adult industry

Mia Khalifa once opened up about why she decided to quit adult entertainment, revealing how she had a serious 'reality check'.

Mia, 31, has always been pretty open about her brief stint in the porn industry.

While she only spent a few months making explicit content, she quickly became one of the biggest performers in the world.

However, just weeks into making adult content, she realised it wasn't what she expected.

Speaking on Stephen Bartlett's 'Diary of a CEO' podcast last year, Mia explained how she got into the industry - and what pushed her to leave.

She said: “I got talked into eloping to Las Vegas four days after my 18th birthday.

“I didn't have a sense of self so I attached myself to someone who was more than happy to abuse that and someone who could see that and see someone easily manipulatable... but at the same time eager to please.

"It was just the perfect storm."

Mia Khalifa spoke about her experiences with Steven Bartlett. (YouTube/The Diary Of A CEO)

Explaining the catalyst for her leaving, Mia revealed that she had been desperate to get out of Miami - where she was living at the time - when a friend in Austin, Texas, explained she was looking for a housemate.

"I thought, what if I move to Austin [...] within a month, I was packed up and moved," she said.

When asked whether there was one specific moment in which she knew she wanted to get out of the industry, she added: "I think it was how overwhelming everything became so fast. It was a reality check, like when they turn the lights on in the club at 4 in the morning, the floors are sticky and nothing looks the same.

"This is not what I signed up for, it's not what I expected, I f****d up."

In the past, Mia has also tried to clear up some of the misconceptions about her time in the adult entertainment world.

One huge myth is that she made loads of money while creating adult content.

It might surprise you to know that Khalifa only earned $12,000 (£9,650).

"People think I’m racking in millions from porn. I made a TOTAL of around $12,000 in the industry and never saw a penny again after that," she said on X at the time.

"Difficulty finding a normal job after quitting porn was… scary."

Mia explained what pushed her to leave. (Instagram/@miakhalifa)

She added: "To clarify, I was never promised ‘millions’, nor do I expect it.

"I’m just clarifying common misconceptions about me, and in turn, about the industry.

"I was involved in porn so briefly, but my actions spread like wildfire, and I continue to be ranked (truly baffles me) 5 years after leaving the industry.

"This is why people think I still perform."