This story is about a M’sian woman’s inspiring journey to reclaim her life after three desperate years as a high-end escort.
In 2022, when the Ukraine war erupted, Alia (anonymised) had lost her job. A mid-30s corporate communications graduate, she didn’t waste time sending out hundreds of applications. But despite her impressive portfolio in digital marketing, she faced hundreds of rejections.
“They’d tell me, “You’re overqualified,” or “You lack the experience we need,” Alia shared with In Real Life. Neither answer made sense, but her desperation grew as the months passed.
Freelancing as a copywriter and social media consultant would keep her barely afloat in her condo in Mont Kiara. Even after moving back with her parents to save on rent, she still struggled to make payments on her PTPN loans and her Axia.
“I was down to my last RM100,” she confessed.
“What else could I do to survive? I have no family, no one who I could turn to for help.”
Alia shared that her father divorced her mother when she was young, and she had cut off contact with them when she was 16.
After countless sleepless nights, Alia made the most difficult decision of her life: To become an adult entertainer. It wasn’t a path she ever imagined for herself, but in her own words, “I had no choice.”
A Start She Never Expected
Alia’s entry into this seedy underworld was surprisingly simple. With a few clicks on a website and a swipe of her credit card, she was listed as an independent companion and got her first match that night itself.
Her first client, a foreign exchange student from Saudi Arabia, took her to dinner before they went to a hotel. When it came to negotiating payment, Alia’s years of fitness, fashion sense, and marketing expertise suddenly became her most valuable tools.
“The dinner was nice; the experience was forgettable, but I earned RM7,500 in three hours.”
At first, the money was a lifeline: Alia paid off all her debts, afford groceries, and even saved. But then the emotional damage crept in.
Alia confessed that she would cry in the shower after each encounter.
“Every time I serviced a client, a little piece of me disappeared.”
Of course, it goes without saying that the work was dangerous. On one occasion, a drunk client became aggressive when she turned down his advances because they were in public. “That was the first time I ever had to pepper spray someone.”
It took her a few months to overcome her fear of men, but eventually she returned to the business because the money would keep her going.
Her best night brought in RM10,000, paid handsomely by a businessman with “very exotic” tastes in the bedroom, but no amount of income could erase the sense of objectification.
Climbing Out of the Darkness
Alia’s time as an entertainer wasn’t just financially taxing—it took a toll on her mental health. She says that she couldn’t sleep, she lost 10kg, her moods swung wildly, and she had to restructure her entire life around late nights and constant vigilance.
But she never stopped applying for traditional jobs. She shared that she was terrified that she’d get comfortable, and eventually succumb to the constant thoughts of low self worth.
After doing it for 12 months and saving enough money to fund a new course of study, she used her upgraded skills to secure a full-time job in a global MNC. “I cleared probation last week,” she beamed.
Finding Self-Worth and Making Peace
Three years later in 2025, Alia says that now she can look back with a mixture of disbelief and relief. “The money is quick, but it’s not worth losing sight of yourself.”
Alia’s story shows that even in the grip of desperation, it’s possible to find a way out and reclaim your life. As she moves forward in her new career, she hopes to leave the past behind and embrace the person she has become.
“Every day, I remind myself of a simple truth: My body is not for sale.”
Have a personal life experience to share?
Submit your story and be heard.
Email us at hello@inreallife.my and you may be featured on In Real Life Malaysia.
Also read: “I Woke Up Naked In A Stranger’s Room,” M’sian Woman Recounts Horrific Abuse By 7 Men – In Real Life
“I Woke Up Naked In A Stranger’s Room,” M’sian Woman Recounts Horrific Abuse By 7 Men
More from Real People
The Man Who Chose to Be Homeless in Kuala Lumpur for 50 Years
This story is about the life and times of Uncle Amran, capturing his worldviews, thoughts, and insights after spending over …
This Young M’sian Woman Quit Her 9-to-5 Job To Embrace Slow Living in Her Kampung
This story is about a young Malay woman who quit her job to embrace the kampung life, finding peace in …
I Made RM 2 Million Building Apps After Losing RM 80,000 With Zero Backup Plan
This story is about Adrian Ching's remarkable journey of building a successful app development company in Klang Valley from scratch.
