Katy Bampton, a former adult-content creator, says dating feels very different now that she has stepped away from the sex industry and is looking for something deeper.
The 32-year-old from South Wales, now living on Thailand’s Koh Samui, says she had more than 100 partners during her past, including threesomes and large swingers’ parties. After leaving OnlyFans, she chose a year of celibacy to “cleanse” and heal from what she describes as trauma and discomfort. She says the break helped her understand herself better and return to dating with clearer boundaries.
Bampton now works in a nursery and has also launched a “School of Sensuality” on the island, aiming to help women reconnect with their bodies. While she still values sexual chemistry, she says intimacy should come after an emotional bond, not before.
She avoids dating apps and prefers meeting people in everyday places like gyms, cafés, or the beach. When it comes to her past, she says she doesn’t hide her name, but usually waits until the second date to explain her background—once she knows there’s a real connection and that a man isn’t treating her like a “trophy.”
She says some men react with insecurity, unrealistic expectations, or even intimidation, and she considers heavy porn use or poor sexual health habits major red flags. Bampton adds that she still gets regular STI tests and expects potential partners to be just as responsible. Ultimately, she says she wants a calm, self-assured man and a monogamous, long-term relationship—possibly with a British partner.