Before becoming one of the most-watched porn stars in the world, Elly Clutch was modeling in her small hometown while studying communications and business in college. When the pandemic brought much of her work to a halt, she started her OnlyFans in 2021 and unexpectedly found herself building an entirely different career.
In the years since, Clutch has amassed more than half a billion views from homemade porn alone, collected awards from Pornhub, AVN, XBIZ and the Venus Berlin Awards, and appeared in Playboy, Hustler, Penthouse and Campout.
More recently, fashion has started finding its way back into the picture. Clutch has worked with photographer Sarah Pardini, shot for Richardson World, Playboy, and this week made the trip to London after being invited to walk for R&M Leathers during London Fashion Week.
She hit the runway in orange-and-black leather panties and a blonde ’80s mullet—a long way from her early modeling days in her small hometown, and a return to the industry she once thought becoming a porn star meant leaving behind.
After building one of adult entertainment’s biggest audiences, Elly Clutch is coming back to fashion on very different terms.
Intro text by Sawyer Gilley.
Profile picture by Abi Perkins
When you began working in the adult industry, did you feel as though you were closing the door on a possible career in fashion?
Elly: I absolutely did. Closing doors is something a lot of us in the adult industry think about—not necessarily because of our own preconceived notions, but because we know how the world is, how often it look downs on sex workers. At the same time, I knew I was only constrained by the limits I put on myself. For every 100 opportunities that might reject me, there’s one that will say yes. Those aren’t terrible odds. Now I have to go after the next 100. I’m not afraid to.
What went through your mind when you were invited to walk for R&M Leathers during London Fashion Week?
Elly: Oh my God, I was elated. I was flattered and honored. I love to travel, I love fashion, I love people, and even when I’m terrified, I’m the kind of person who embraces new experiences and enjoys being pushed. I also immediately knew I needed to call a friend (shoutout Amanda Riley) to critique my walk.
What was the experience actually like backstage before the show? Were you nervous before stepping onto the runway?
Elly: It was probably exactly what you’d imagine: high energy, dozens of people running around making sure everything was in place, lots of photos, chit-chatting, nerves and excitement. The other models were incredibly nice, which I was SO grateful for. I was nervous to walk the runway of course, but at the end of the day, I’m a performer. The nerves are always met with adrenaline once they leave.
Porn and fashion both involve performance, fantasy and constructing an image of yourself. Did walking a runway feel at all similar to performing for a camera, or completely different?
Elly: Modeling and porn have a lot of similarities, but what stood out to me most was the “live” aspect. When you’re in front of a camera, there’s a sense of forgiveness and trust between you and your costars, stylists, directors and artists. The runway actually reminded me more of swimming competitively in high school. It’s just you, in your own mind, and there’s no room for error, only subtle improvements over time.
Because your body is already so publicly visible, does fashion give you another way of controlling how people look at you?
Elly: Fashion and porn have a lot more in common than people realize: self-expression, sexuality (or the lack of it) art, conversation and creation. I can’t control how people look at me, but I can control how I present myself. And I hope that by doing that, I give other people permission to be more themselves and to be brave, whether that’s through sex or fashion.
Alright Elly, last question: Do you feel like you’re coming back to fashion on your own terms now?
Elly: Absolutely.