Page 61 - AVN June 2019

“We give our writers permission to explore what
excites them. They’ve really run with that ... freely
and unapologetically, championing sex positivity,
consent and female sexuality. ”
support for one another and I couldn’t
be prouder of what we’ve managed
to accomplish together so far.”
In addition to familiar names such
as Selena Kitt, Kay Brandt and Rachel
Kramer Bussel, Bellesa also features
new voices. “Lauren Emily and Eva
Monroe, for example, had never
published any erotica before Bellesa,
and now they’re two of our most
popular authors,” Renault said. “We
give our writers permission to explore
what excites them. They’ve really run
with that and made our collection
what it is today. Because the authors
explore freely and unapologetically,
championing sex positivity, consent
and female sexuality, the readers
then have the permission to do the
same, which is the whole point of
Bellesa.”
In addition to Erotic Stories, readers
can also explore the Collective
(Bellesa.co/collective), brimming
with sex tips, listicles and pop-culture
essays. This section seeks to address
a general lack of sex education
in society, that’s an area where
Shnaidman wants to grow. “People
are really engaged with sexual health
articles,” she observed.
In July of 2018, Bellesa added
another component to the site: an
online store. As with the video side,
Shnaidman was inspired to launch the
shop by her own online experiences.
Sex toy mega-sites “have amazing
stuff, but there’s so much going on.
And if you’re someone who hasn’t
bought a toy before ... you’re just so
overwhelmed. You don’t know where
to start.”
Bellesa Boutique (BBoutique.co)
aims to be a site “that demystifies sex
toys and you’re being recommended
something from a friend you can trust.
And I think that changes the whole air
of it.”
She continued, “We have our
Bellesa line of sex toys and we have
a bunch of other sex toys that are
body safe and have been vetted and
tested by us. ... And we have a new
line that will be coming out soon.”
The first-time visitor can enter the
Bellesa community through any of
the paths: videos, the written word,
or through a desire to shop. But the
overall goal is the same: “We’re really
trying to bridge the gap between the
mainstream and the adult industry. ...
We’re welcoming people who aren’t
yet comfortable and kind of holding
their hand until they are.”
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