Growing Your Edges with ESMÉ ELLIOT

Molly Simmons
Jan 10, 2023
13 min read

Updated: Oct 31, 2023

INTERVIEW by MOLLY SIMMONS

Permaculture, plants, photography and community—it’s all covered in this feature of Esme Elliot. They opened up to Petit Mort about their upcoming move to the woods, building community across sex working and queer communities, and erotic and creative expression through plants and photography.

PETIT MORT (MOLLY SIMMONS)

Why don’t you begin by telling me a little bit about yourself and your trajectory and history as a worker?

ESMÉ ELLIOT

Well, I’m a double Capricorn, Cancer rising. Very earthy, grounded. I’m also an herbalist, total plant freak, nerd, dog parent, self-proclaimed foodie... and kind of an aspiring chef. I grew up in New York City, and I also lived rurally at times. So I’ve been moving in between rural spaces and more urban spaces for my whole life. I started out doing vanilla massage work - licensed massage therapist bodywork. Throughout my history I had a lot of stripper friends in New York, so I got a taste of the lifestyle. I didn’t think that it would ever be for me because I was alternative. My friend who was doing it was this very gorgeous French girl, and she’d be like, just lose 10 pounds and shave your pits. You can strip in Williamsburg at the weirdo club.

But I just didn’t get into it. Didn’t think it was for me. I went down a whole other journey of learning how to grow food and studying permaculture design and social systems. Then I started to get curious about it. I met a lot of sex workers when I moved to Philly and had some people who were willing to just show me the ropes. I was very fortunate in that I had a lot of community support and people handing me clients and showing me ad sites and taking photos and stuff, so then I just naturally transitioned. I started out doing some sensual full body massage, but quickly realized that full service was for me.