Adult awards shows may seem like a popularity contest to some, but for those that respect hard work and appreciate accomplishments, it is more than just pats on the back. Recognizing award-worthy talent isn’t just just that one person accepting the trophy on any given stage; it’s about reveling in the art form that is the adult industry, while realizing the potential of greatness that anybody can achieve in the business of porn. You don’t need an award to bring any of these great films and performances to life, but these shiny little statues are indeed a reminder of what the adult industry can bring to us in terms of witnessing remarkable talents. Consider these celebrations as beacons of inspiration that aren’t recognized the same way by mainstream media outlets. Sadly, most mainstream mindsets would rather use porn and cast it to the side after they are done with it. Award shows are the complete opposite of that type of behavior of using and abusing the industry. These adult award programs are all about preserving and remembering what we love about it, and acknowledging the appreciation of this vast industry of adult entertainment.
Here is a roundtable of winners to best represent where we are so far in the busy awards season this year. This current list covers the recently wrapped 2021 XRCO Awards and the 29th Annual NightMoves Awards, both of which I attended. The awards season never ends if you’re an active reviewer or critic in the industry, but around the year’s end is when most of the accolades begin to converge between all the shows and awards. Observe this list of ten triumphs to see what the amazing arts of XXX bring us…
1. Trophy: Best New Starlet (Fan’s Choice) – 29th Annual NightMoves Awards (Tampa, FL)
Winner: Skylar Vox
Skylar shows adoration to her fans upon the realization she won the award for this year’s Best New Starlet from NightMoves. Her appreciation glowing like the very same aura she exudes in her hot and energetic scenes. The Fan Choice is a time-honored tradition for the NightMoves awards as being one of the first awards ceremonies that allowed fans to vote in the first place. In 2021, they let their voices be heard with Skylar taking the coveted Best New Starlet nod from NightMoves.
Known for her natural knockers, she also blazes her talents among all types of brands and performances. I highly recommend her Blacked RAW scene from the V38 collection. She also has a scorcher threesome scene for the Pretty and Raw franchise from Bang!
2. Trophy: Girl/Girl Performer of the Year – 2021 XRCO Awards (Los Angeles, CA)
Winner: Charlotte Stokely
Not only was Charlotte glowing on stage as a presenter at this year’s XRCO Awards, but she took home the coveted trophy of Girl/Girl Performer of the Year that night.
The newly launched Slayed brand from Vixen Media Group houses some of Charlotte’s most important modern works that demand your attention. The Explicit Acts collection of scenes grants you Charlotte teaming with Lilly Bell for a performance. Even if you’re not a staunch fan of girl/girl porn, you should see what this Slayed stuff is all about. The next stop would be by anything Girlfriends Films puts out with Charlotte. The perfect example is the Halloween-themed Lesbian Ghost Stories 6, it is adorable. Watch the Halloween Special that comes with an appropriately dressed cast in this treat from the famed lesbian studio.
3. Trophy: Best MILF Performer (Editor’s Choice) – 29th Annual NightMoves Awards (Tampa, FL)
Winner: Rachael Cavalli
Rachael was present to receive the award that fun-filled weekend in Tampa. She appeared at every event to cheer on the caravan of stars and chilled by the pool on sunny Florida days during off-time. Rachael’s presence was one of the main reasons the 29th Annual NightMoves Awards weekend was such a memorable show. She’s a top-tier MILF that was rightfully recognized as she covers all bases in the MILF game of XXX. As you know, the NightMoves Awards has fan voting but it also contains vouches from the reviewing and editorial staff. Those are called the “Editor’s Choice” awards rather than the Fan Choice votes tallied through online ballots. This year’s two trophies were handed out in the very popular MILF category with Alexis Fawx getting the fan-voted edition of the trophy.
Watch Rachael’s MILF magic in recent releases such as Mommy’s Boy 3 from Devil’s Film. She has a tryst with brand-new stud Tyler Cruise in that one.
4. Trophy: Best Director Web/Feature/Non-Feature – 2021 XRCO Awards (Los Angeles, CA)
Winner: Kayden Kross
Kayden cleaned house—deservedly so—earning every single nod for her efforts and releases. She took home three Best Director awards that night in Boardner’s. The XRCO event is an adult awards show and party that celebrates achievements like Kayden’s. Her alliance with the Deeper brand only brought good things to her, and the industry as a whole. The first season of Muse is wholly evidenced by this with the promise of season two already in tow for even more awards to be showered on this talented director.
This includes the obvious winner of Muse Season 1, the multiple award-winning efforts from the director and the Deeper brand. You can consider it required viewing if you haven’t seen it already, with the reward being fully fleshed-out episodes with evolving characters akin to what you’d find in mainstream (or even better). Being an appreciator of the industry makes it an even richer experience, as you see every one of the performers in this star-studded cast shine in their roles.
5. Trophy: Best Female Performer (Editor’s Choice) – 29th Annual NightMoves Awards (Tampa, FL)
Winner: Brooklyn Chase
Brooklyn was not only there in-person to receive her award, but during the NightMoves caravan of stars she also feature-danced at multiple clubs. Each time Brooklyn brought the house down as she took to the stage to grace fans with her presence. Industry critics were happy to finally see her get the recognition she deserves, as they expressed this to me on social media after word got out that Brooklyn took home the coveted trophy.
You’ll see Brooklyn Chase crush it in every big-boob compilation that you can find her in, like Busty Tits On The Job by DDF Productions, but I particularly enjoyed her Elegant Angel showcase. The full-fledged performer showcase is simply titled Brooklyn, brought to us from Elegant Angel’s stable of directors. Sid Knox gives Brooklyn Chase a rightfully representative effort regarding this award-winning buxom veteran.
6. Trophy: Best Actress – 2021 XRCO Awards (Los Angeles, CA)
Winner: Maitland Ward
It is wonderful to have Maitland in this industry. Now with the second season of Muse already upon us, there is so much to her body of work that just keeps expanding. The Deeper brand is home to the grander scale of this expanse of high-end adult productions, with Maitland as the literal muse of Deeper’s greater endeavors.
You’ll hear a lot about Muse in talks during awards season this year, and surely beyond it. It is just that influential in terms of necessary heights to aim for in the adult industry. We knew something was right with XXX gems like 2019’s Drive, and the quality just continues with some of Maitland’s other marvels, like the Mistress Maitland series, for example. Her sheen of quality serenades the fans that are on board for enriching pornography. I hope to see the movie Drive get the sequel treatment one day. This year brought us the continuation of both Mistress Maitland and Muse, so we can hold out hope for Drive 2.
7. Trophy: Personal Favorite – 2021 XRCO Awards (Los Angeles, CA)
Winner: Angela White
If there ever was a performer tailor-made for the “Personal Favorite” award, it’d be this Australian Queen of Porn. Angela White epitomizes what all adult film performers should strive to be. Perfect examples include a shining attitude that gleams with positive energy while retaining staunch professionalism at the same time. At the XRCO Awards back in LA, she presented onstage with Lacey London, showing her empowering glow-up in person.
Where can’t you find Angela? The amazing talent of her hardcore performing skills graced many films this year. Standout scenes include her appearance in fellow Aussie performer’s showcase, Savannah Bond: Beach Bikini Slut and her usual rounds of amazing anal runs in films like Anal Antics 3, both by Evil Angel. Also, keep an eye out on anything from Brazzers, as she just joined their gang of contract stars to release even hotter scenes destined to become fan-favorites.
8. Trophy: Best Male Performer (Fan’s Choice) – 29th Annual NightMoves Awards (Tampa, FL)
Winner: Manuel Ferrara
This living king of porn resides on a throne decked out with multiple awards that span an ever-active career. At this year’s NightMoves show the fans had their votes in his honor to receive yet another Best Male Performer trophy from the adult award ceremony that takes place in Tampa. He also won the same trophy last year in 2020.
Manuel’s award-winning talents include directing as well as performing, and this was a year where he went all-out with both hats on. You can catch him doing this feat of double-duty for Jules Jordan Video with Special Dark 5 for a fine slice of ebony porno. The beautiful Black women are the stars of the show on a stage that Manuel sets. Deeper houses his intensity in that finely filmed style they are known for; check him out in releases such as Good Girls, where he drops an anal scene with the firecracker performer Avery Cristy. She happens to be XRCO’s currently awarded New Starlet!
9. Trophy: Best Actor – 2021 XRCO Awards (Los Angeles, CA)
Winner: Seth Gamble
Seth was there to receive his award in-person that night. He was all smiles as a true champion knows when they deserve a victory. Seth’s role in A Killer On The Loose earned this artistically driven accolade. The MissaX movie brought with it a slew of other talents, like director Ricky Greenwood and Seth’s co-star Aiden Ashley, for instance. She was also there that night to celebrate.
This film will probably remind you of the mainstream movie Silence of the Lambs at first glance, but I can assure you it is unlike A Killer On The Loose. The famous film with Jodie Foster doesn’t have a scorching-hot sex scene like the MissaX movie does. Aiden Ashley and Seth act off of each other so well through the course of the entire film, when it comes to that finale you can expect a climax that’ll leave you thinking about the film long after you watched it. Seth had a good team to knock it out of the park the way he did. This trophy glistens with that team-player quality that Seth exudes.
10. Trophy: Best Girl/Girl Performer (Fan’s Choice) – 29th Annual NightMoves Awards (Tampa, FL)
Winner: Kenna James
Another fan-voted champion of the NightMoves awards in 2021, Kenna has been crushing everything in her path during her illustrious career in porn. Fans recognize this in all avenues, including the girl-girl category that she was nominated in and ultimately won. I know Kenna James from memorable performances outside of the girl-girl space, but it is good to know when I do go exploring lesbian porn I have her content there waiting for me.
Right off the bat, Sweetheart Video comes to mind when good and lighthearted lesbian porn is on the order. Watch Kenna in Young Lesbian Experience 2 from the sweetly lit studio. The scene has her tumbling with Vanessa Veracruz for some vaginally inclined pleasures. Kenna James also glows for another titular girl-girl brand, Girlsway. Catch her in 2019’s Better Late Than Never in a scene with the one-and-only Riley Reid.