★
It’s not everyday that we get a chance to interview someone who is as candid and honest about their past as Tasha is. Beautiful, caring, smart and sexy, Tasha is an amazing person whose story will break your heart and, at the same time, inspire you. The first part of this interview will explore Tasha’s early life and the trials and tribulations that created the persona “Tasha Jones.” Later, we will look at the lighter side of Tasha that will focus more on her business ventures and sexual antics! There aren't many people who can go to the brink of disaster only to turn their lives around in a full 180 degrees. Tasha is one of those people who are strong enough to do it, and honestly, the world is a much better place because of it. Tasha’s story is one of strength, courage hope and honesty and can serve as a point of inspiration and motivation for everyone. Few minority groups are as targeted against as Transgender groups are – the prejudice and bigotry they must endure can be overwhelming at times… We hope Tasha’s story can shed light into the world that Transgender people must face - and we hope that this story can serve two purposes. 1. To put a real and human element into the TS/TG world in an attempt try to elevate some of the hate against them, and 2. to try to show that TS/TG people are not alone in their personal pain and to show them that in many instances, even when things look there darkest, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
How did the whole Tasha Jones persona get started?
Tasha Jones:
I knew a girl that I worked the streets with when I first started out. I was only 16 at the time. I wanted to go to bars with all the other working girls, so I needed a fake ID and I used hers to get one. Her name was Tasha. When I moved to Vancouver in order to have ads in the local paper you needed to be 19 and have ID. Since I was using a fake ID to get into bars and still had it, I used that. All my advertisements had my name as Tasha; I did not want to change that. Once you build a name, changing it just looks like you’re trying to hide something or provide poor service.
The name Jones is my father’s last name. I wanted to piss him off so I started using it in all my ads, which I would send to my family, and in turn, they showed them to him. It did not have the effect I wished for. When we reconnected in 1996 after my mother died, he saw that I had a good reputation and he used that as well as me to open an escort agency in Toronto named “Tasha Jones' Pussycats.” We ran it together until his true colors came out and I saw why my mother kept me from seeing him. We had a huge fight and I turned my back on him. It felt good to know that I was turning my back and not the other way around like he had done my whole life. We never spoke again before he passed away in 1997.
Sed:
How did you break into the adult industry?
T.J:
In my eyes the adult industry is not just about making adult films. It is everything adult. So, I started working the streets at a very young age and then moved onto paper ads for many years. I started doing webcam shows in 1998 for Video Secrets, now Flirt4Free. I was one of the first Transsexual models they had on their sites. I launched my own website that same year named, “Shemalewonderland” I also started doing pictures and videos clips for Mandy Goodhandy & Todd Klink for Mandy’s site, which was called “Shemale Palace.” I later bought that site and content from Mandy and merged it with my own site. Looking back now, I wish had not merged the two sites. Mandy’s site was well known and was doing very well. My site, however, was not very well known and did not have the following that her site had. But you live and learn. Today you can visit her site at: MandyGoodhandy.com Also in 1998 I filmed my first Adult movie. I never released it because it the quality was very bad and I was a little green in what it takes to be an adult star at that time. But I loved doing it and it lead me to sign up with Mayhem North Inc., owned by Mandy & Todd. I did 4 movies with them and I’m about to start filming my 5 this month “Tasha’s Trashy T-Girls vol. 2”
From 1998 till 2006, I have done four main stream movies. Tasha’s Trashy T-girls, Shemale Sex Party 1 & 2 and Tranny Tag Team. I have done 100’s of photo shoots/video clips for my own website “Tasha Jones Productions” ,“Shemale Palace” and Shemale Yum. I also do video clips and pictures just for fun and post them for free. I opened the first ever Shemale Webcam Network in 2004, then partnered with Gia Darling & Allanah Starr which was an interesting experience... again you live and learn. I also was a Shemale Stripper. Stripping was not my thing so I would go on stage, dance a little then lay down and jerk-off while I fucked myself with a dildo. That was more my style and the audience loved it.
Sometimes people do not understand my thinking when it comes to the adult world. I never had a PR person or anyone to do hair/make-up. No one guiding or helping me to become more then I was when it came to the “porn star status”. There was a time I wanted to be the biggest Transsexual adult star around. In my own right, I was back in the day - in Canada that is! But money never meant anything to me. Unless I was having fun and enjoying what I was doing, no amount of money would make me do something I did not want to do. This is why I love to just do free webcam shows and make video clips for fun.
Sed:
How long have you been camming for?
T.J:
I started doing webcam shows in 1998. For the first 5 years I was mostly doing daily cam shows in the evening. Then I got bored and switched to weekly shows, then monthly shows, then finally stopped all together for a while because it was not enjoyable anymore. People forgot that I was a person and not some blow up doll! Just because they were paying me $2.99 a minute does not mean that they own me. Having all the demands, stupid questions and disrespect was a turn off for me. How can a viewer expect you to put on a good show, get hard, blow a load when there yelling at you to put your leg behind your head. So I walked away until I was able to ignore what they asked or said and just had fun again .I do shows now when I want to, but for fun not money. Although I did a show the other night on Cam4 and for the first time accepted tokens ..hehehe it was fun, made some tokens and I got off all over my desk. I am going to start to do weekly shows on ladyplus.com website once I am back home in Halifax because I find the experience enjoyable, and the viewers are just thankful that I am on cam for them. It's also nice to make a couple extra pennies too... lol!
Sed:
What do you enjoy more - camming or making videos?
T.J:
For me, all my videos are very real life type of videos. I do not want to be some pretend actress who has lines and have to cum on demand. I am not an actress and that would come off as fake. For me that would take away from the sexual fantasy that I am trying to put out to my fans. I like just being myself and enjoying myself. Webcamming is very much like that for me as well - I like both formats to be honest. Although with the webcam, I do not have to leave my house which is always nice because once I cum I get lazy..
Sed:
Tasha’s Trashy T-Girls Vol. 2. What is the concept behind this video?
T.J:
Reality, something different and lots more Transsexual models. I also want to document a lot of the behind-the-scenes camera footage. I think that would be interesting for the viewers to see not only what goes into making this video, but also seeing the models away from the cameras just being themselves. The other really cool part of this video will be that we are shooting some of it live at Goodhandys night club in Toronto! Also, we plan to film this in front of a live audience! It will be a closed set for members only of course, but we will also simulcast this via webcam as we shoot exclusively for the members of www.worldonthefringe.com . It really is a huge turn on for me to perform live in front of people. To grab a random guy and just start sucking his cock is very hot to me! (Clearly people who are in attendance know they will be filmed and have signed the release form and shown ID) Of course some guys will just be sitting on the side lines jerking off getting a close up view of the actions. Then I will just walk over, get on my knees and suck them till they cum. How hot is that going to be for the guy, people around the guy and people watching live as it happens? Of course, I will enjoy myself knowing I am being watched?
I also am filming with Wendy Summers on August 2. She will be doing a live webcam show for “World on the Fringe members,” and I will join her. Our show will be something the members or my fans have never seen before. Let me just say there will be some girl on girl action, a strap on dildo on my head and Wendy’s very willing bottom!
For my main part of the video, I want to do a Ts Seduction type of video shoot but with the guy being the dom and me being the sub. I want him to use and abuse me. I want it to be real and show that when he hits my ass, it gets really red. Then I want his cock to force its way into my mouth as I gag on it. I am really gagging. But you know that I’m loving every second of it.
Sed:
You mentioned that you had a real rough time in early 2010. What was it that changed your life around?
T.J:
So your making this is a pretty personal subject for me, but I am learning that by talking about everything it may help others to understand. I hope that by hearing my story, if they're in the same situation as I was, it will help them see this before it is too late. I was in a very abusive relationship. For the first time in my life I was truly in love and was under the impression that he felt the same way. But with someone like him, they only love themselves and use people to get ahead or to play games with them for sport. In my case it was both. So, when things finally came to a head and it was evident to me that it was over, I lost myself in the pain, regret and the aftermath of that relationship. I attempted to comment suicide. I was saved when someone who I held dear to my heart as a very good friend reached out and took me away to regain myself. Though that act of kindness and understanding I found love again and with that, I found new respect for myself that I never had before. I finished college, got my degree, got married and moved back home to be close to my family. I was at the lowest point a person could be. The truth is, being that low really forces you to take notice in your life and correct the mistakes you have made. I had to face some harsh truths about myself and make some big changes in my life. By being able to do that, I really found peace within myself.
Sed:
What does your husband think about you being in the adult industry? Is he ok with you doing camshows/videos & your radio show? Does he play a role now in your current projects?
T.J:
My husband is one of the most supportive people I know. I have never met anyone like him. He is very supportive of my choices in life, whatever they maybe. He also met me way back in 1998 when I first started out doing webcams. This is a funny story. I worked the 3am to 7am shift on webcam. I would work for an hour and then I always fell asleep till about 6ish. So he would come in and watch people trying to talk to me and wake me up and all you would see is my belly moving up and down. I am shocked I was able to get away with that every night for almost 2 years. But with limited number of Transsexual models back then willing to do webcam shows, I was able to make a good amount in that first hour. I guess they over looked it. But he has been a huge help with my websites and travels though the years. His role is to give me fresh washed cloths ..lol. No, he is still my webmaster for the websites. He also is my sounding board as much as my grounding base. He keeps things from going to my head and is my voice of reason before making choices in my life. I have found once you have a positive support system in place in your life, things really become easy and choices are not as hard to make. I am very lucky for many reasons that he is in my life. Now for his part…he just likes to see me sex it up in any form. So it is a win/win for both of us.
Sed:
Congratulation on your recent marriage! With everything that you have gone through, that must have been quite a day. How happy were you that your family was there?
T.J:
It was one of the happiest days of my life. I was surrounded by people who loved me and wished me nothing but the best. It was a good feeling to be in a room with so much love. Really, for the first time in my life I felt the love and happiness so many other people are able to take for granted. I also felt complete and not alone. Being alone is something I have always felt in my life. It was a positive day and gave me the confidence I needed to let my past go and start living my life as a much more confident person.
Sed:
Have you been able to reconcile things with your family - how supportive are they now?
T.J:
Yes. My family has really shown a huge amount of support since I moved back to Halifax. For the first time in years we have family dinners again and no one gets mad and walks out. We talk and treat each other with respect, for the most part. My grandmother even refers to me as her granddaughter (sometimes). But the biggest part is that I am not the same person I was when I left Halifax back in 1992. I have grown and have been though some awful situations that changed me. I am also happy within myself and not ashamed of who I am. I really do not care what they think. Because of my confidence, that might have helped them to open their eyes and see who I am as a person, not a gender. I also have to own my own part in how they viewed me when I was younger. I did not give them much to be proud of back when I lived home. I was drinking a fair bit, using some drugs, working the streets and dressing like a street walker going to family dinners. I also tried to force who I was at them and unless I got 100% support it was not good enough for me. I know now that was not the way to get acceptance or understanding.
Sed:
What was the idea behind the radio show - how did that all start?
T.J:
To be honest. My Ex is in jail for aggravated sexual assault and is about to go to trial, for which I have to testify against him and re-live the hell he put me though. It made the news and people jumped on it on some of the forums and said things about myself and our relationship that was very untrue. Some of the other transsexuals tried to use this as a weapon against me. Sometimes people love to see you get cut down when you have a respected name with the fans. So I was really defenseless and it was frustrating for me. I could have written a blog, but sometimes written words can not explain things or be interpreted as how you would like them to be. People can take what they want to hear out of written words. So the idea of a video blog came into my mind. Then I happened to come across a project I started back in 2006 which was a Transsexual talk show. The idea was a good one but the thought of trying to be on camera and work on others people’s schedules was not a logical choice at that time. I needed a voice and a platform for not only myself but for others to tell there own stories in their own words. I had an account for Blogtalkradio back in 2006 which I never used so I logged on. The show started a week later with just me talking about issues that were meaningful to me. Then I had my first two guests, “Jizelle Moore” and later, “Barbie Swallows” The format took off and the fan mail started coming in. The listeners grew every week. Then I was able to have the whole month of June booked with an amazing guest line up. Now I have July with some top names in the business. It is going well with just the Transsexual Adult Stars, but I want to branch out. So in August/September I will start covering different topics with different types of guests. This is fun for me and I really am enjoying it. I am not making money from it and am doing it all on my own. So until things become more work then fun, I am just going to keep doing what seems to be working right now.
Sed:
Do you feel your show had been therapeutic for you?
T.J:
Yes. I did a show a month ago called “lovers” That show was just me telling the story of my past lovers. The good and the bad parts of my past relationships; just the raw emotion. It was freeing to be able to share something so personal with people. I was able to express myself and stay in the moment - sheeding tears and all without the worry of others judging me. But the responses I got from the listeners really made me see that being myself, being as raw as I could be with the truth about my past, realty worked well! It was amazing, and from some of the emails I think I might have touched someone’s heart enough for them to have there own awakening and leave their bad situation. How can that not help me make some positive out of something so tragic? So yes, this show is saving me $200 an hour for a therapist. Thank you listeners!
Sed:
Who has been your favourite interview thus far?
T.J:
That is a hard one. Each interview I have had has been good on different levels. I really enjoyed Barbie Swallows. I think it felt natural and I think I liked that people got to see who she is as a person and not how she appears as a persona on the internet. Wendy Summers was also very good and felt very real for me. I felt like I was talking to an old friend. You can tell when someone is being fake or just saying what they think they should say. A good example of being real would have to be Foxxy when she talked about farting in the middle of a shoot. That is real life stuff and I really think that the listeners like to know that even the models they dream about and jerk off to, are very real people. I think it makes them even sexier to the listeners. I know for me I love hearing those stories - with that one I almost peed myself! What is also great about the show’s interviews is that we are on a phone and not in a studio or interviewing through a webcam. So it’s just a normal phone conversation and sometimes I even forget that I’m on the air!! I’m sure the feeling is the same for some of my guests. This can make things more at ease. Foxy said that it was nothing like an interview, more like talking to a girlfriend, and that is exactly what I am going for!
Sed:
Who will be your next interview victim? (joking - all the interviews I have heard have been really fun and interesting!)
T.J:
I have Wendy Williams I am really looking forward to that interview. She is an icon in the adult world and is well respected by her fans and peers. She is also a business woman like myself with many different projects on the go. I respect her a lot and I think there will be lots to learn and talk about with her.
Sed:
What Transsexual adult star would you like to interview in the future?
T.J:
There are a couple. Bailey Jay is one. I love her radio show and her voice is sweet yet funny sounding. Gia Darling of course, her life would be an interviewer's dream. She really has a story to tell. Kimber James is on my list as well. She started out and within months went to the top. That is not an easy task these days. Mandy Goodhandy is on my list and one day, when the time is right, she will be on and that interview will be like nothing the listeners have ever heard before!
Sed:
If you could interview anyone - any person on earth - who would it be?
T.J:
I really would love to interview Chris Crocker. He is an interesting person to me. I enjoy his tweets a lot. He also has a rich background that I would love to dive into. His sexuality, his views on life and how “Leave Britney alone” changed his life are really fascinating! Seeing his tweets from his followers really shows that he has a loyal fan base. There has to be a reason for that.
Sed:
Are you looking to get more involved in the adult business - what are your plans and goals for that side of your life?
T.J:
Well in a way, yes. I am filming my next adult movie now, and I am going to start doing more webcam shows. The radio show, because it is adult in nature, really keeps me in the adult world. Other than that, I am not really looking to do more at this time. I am happy with my life and I like to have side projects, but I would rather keep them as a side project rather than making that my full-time life again. I had that and always needed more out of life. Now I can have both and be happy. That is more important to me then fame.
Sed:
Do you plan on continuing your nursing work, or are you switching to the adult business full-time?
T.J:
I love nursing. It brings such joy to my life to be able to wear my scrubs, no make-up and hair up with glasses. I am not Tasha Jones when I am at work. I am just anther girl working 12 hour nights and dealing with residents who need personal assistance or medications. But I am respected on that level. That is new for me to be respected for something other than a good cock sucker, or better yet, in this situation a good ass fucker…now I clean them! I could not be happier ..lol.
Sed:
With everything you have been through, you would be an incredible inspiration to other young, confused and naive transgender people. Do you plan on getting involved in any outreach program or charitable organization to help troubled transgender youth?
T.J:
No. I will explain why. Most of those places have a different view on things than I do. You have to be supportive and understanding, you have to be able to listen without cutting them off. I am not one of those people. I have been though hell but never did I allow myself to play victim. I will not hold someone’s hand and tell them it is ok, if I know they're doing the wrong thing. I know myself that is not what I needed. I needed a good slap and to be told to stop feeling sorry for myself and to grow a pair and move on from the past. Back when I was feeling sorry for myself I did have one other Transwoman in my life who always told me the truth about everything. I used to think she was the biggest bitch in the world, sometimes I still do. But now, I know she was right and that is what I needed to get though my bad choices and grow up and see the world as a person and not a victim. I needed the truth without that truth being sugar coated. Trust me she gave it to me hard and good, and not in a good way..lol
I also feel that people need to make mistakes to learn. Leaning from my mistakes might help some get though a very hard time. I hope it does. But unless they go though that time in their life they will never be strong enough to face what is to come. Being Transgendered is not easy; it is a battle we have to fight everyday not only within ourselves but with the world. If you’re cuddled your whole life you will never be able to deal with the demons within yourself or how cruel the world can really be. That is not helping anyone, and in fact, it is enabling them to not deal with the real issues.
Sometimes someone being truthful with you will hurt you at first, but I feel it will save you in the end.
To be continue...
