Ambition incarnate. That is Ella Silver. And while a great many aspiring superstars too heavily favor powerful beauty (of which she has a wealthy sum in aesthetic riches), Silver is all about beautiful power.
That is not to say she neglects the visuals. Nay, she is a blacksmith, hammering and shaping and burning and crushing and bending herself with ruthless perfectionism, making sure that every hair and lash is in place, that every fashionable thread and fancy hat is undeniably on point.
I used to only want to aim for the ceiling, believing there was only so much I could achieve, but camming and modeling has shown me I can have whatever I like.
To step into the limelight, heck, to step out into the daylight without a proper pep in her step, without the satisfaction of crisply pressed clothing, coiffed hair and deftly applied makeup would be heresy. Certainly, a sweater day here and there is acceptable, but you’ll rarely catch this empress trolling the local supermarket looking like a commoner.
It must be said, however, that even if she was wearing nothing more than a potato sack, Silver walks with such goddamned regal command, standing up straight enough to make a heartless ballet teacher crack a smile at the elegant spectacle, that the peasantry would surely fall to the ground with gratitude for her graceful presence. As they should, the slovenly bastards! This is royalty!
And like the fiercest of artists, her love for excellence is seasoned with such worship, that she despises any hint of less-than-the-best in her life. Even her camming friends are a coterie of carefully cultivated badasses, like her XBIZ Cam Awards co-host Elise Laurenne and May ’19 Cam World cover model Molly Stewart, the very cream of the crop, very equally drop-dead gorgeous and hardworking.
To list the number of magazine covers and photoshoots that have immortalized Silver would be to miss the point of this woman. To pal around town with her like a trophy, to see her as nothing more than a stunning Amazonian goddess, would be to miss the devastatingly real heart beneath it all…
…the loyal warmth, the unrequited love, the painfully lonely path that camming’s top-tier players tread, the comedy found in tragedy, the ready-to-sling banter saved up from suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune…
…because like all great forces of nature, her sheer strength and towering personality will always cause waves, sending out ripples that not everyone can truly handle.
But can you believe she used to shovel horseshit at 4:00 in the morning?
This, and many more delectable facts will unravel before you, dear reader, in this exclusive Cam Star of the Month interview. Harken then, to this tale of magnificence.
XBIZ: Tell us about your equine business background and what inspired you to shift from horses to full-time camming? Discuss any equestrian or entrepreneurial skills that enhanced your cam modeling.
Silver: I started horse riding a long time ago. I’ve actually been a horse rider for a quarter of a century now! I’m quite good at the sport and moved to Italy to open a riding school in 2010. I ran/owned a yard for six years until I got bored of being poor and shoveling poop at 4 a.m. on Christmas Day.
Working with animals teaches you a great deal about hard work. Up at 4 a.m. and finishing every day at 10 p.m. at night. I don’t believe in the saying “if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life” bullshit. I loved my job, but it was damn hard, physically and mentally, and it 100,000 percent prepared me for camming.
I believe in order to be successful (especially in the cam model industry) it’s largely about putting the hours in every day, rain or shine. Showing up and making good connections are also key. I rarely have more than a few days off at a time. This work ethic was drilled into me working with animals that need food and attention 24 hours a day, not unlike me to be honest.
XBIZ: What are your main revenue streams and what platforms do you spend the most time on (be they camming, clips or social media)?
Silver: I really only make money via streaming live. I play to my strengths, which are talking and entertaining live, rather than clips.
A small amount of my time goes into growing my Twitter and Instagram. I don’t believe that social media brings huge amounts of my revenue though. Social media is a good way to network and bring new opportunities.
It’s impossible to publicize anything adult-related now via Instagram, but I do believe the connections and friendships I have gotten through social media are as valuable as currency.
XBIZ: How do you balance a healthy personal life filled with exercise, romance, family and such, while working so hard, or is work basically your life? If so, how do you find time to stay so fit?
Silver: Keeping fit and having family/personal time is something I find incredibly hard. My week consists of wake up, work, gym, work, chores, sleep and repeat. It’s incredibly lonely at the best of times and I’m trying to work on it.
As I’m sure a lot of models do, I struggle slightly with body dysmorphia. Being a workaholic and constantly worried about my physical appearance, means I feel like I am constantly chasing that “bread” whilst simultaneously never fucking eating bread.
One day I’ll crack the balance, but in the meantime I hope any woman reading this, knows that they aren’t alone and no matter what size their body or bank account is ... it’s good enough if you’re happy.
XBIZ: Talk about your ambitions outside of the adult biz, which span airplane piloting to non-XXX movie and TV role auditions.
Silver: I need to audition! I’d love to act in a non-adult film role. I reckon I’m a rather dramatic individual and feel like it would be an amazing step in the right direction when I finish camming.
Obviously, finding work outside of the adult industry, after working in it, is going to be harder than normal. I also adore the sex industry. It’s full of the most complicated and talented people I’ve ever met. I’m hoping one day I’ll find a little niche for me to fit into. One that is as creative and lucrative as camming.
Outside of work though … I want to achieve everything. I haven’t got the time at the moment to do my pilot’s license, but I’m 100 percent sure I will eventually. I’m currently looking into wing walking. If I can’t fly the plane, I’ll settle for standing on top of it for now. Diving with sharks is also on my 2020 list of “sod it, let’s have a go.”
XBIZ: What was it like hosting the XBIZ Cam Awards at this year's XBIZ Miami and flexing your industry influencer muscles to uplift the community?
Silver: Definitely in my top five most amazing experiences of my life. Seeing the production of a show that size and being behind the scenes, was an eye opener. I’m incredibly proud and humbled that I got to be a part of it. The show was flawless and I’m in awe of people that organized the whole event. And the best bit was I got to host with my best friend Elise Laurenne. That woman is one of the most important people in my life and to have achieved all that we did together was incredible.
XBIZ: How has the "Ella Silver" brand evolved over time? Describe your overall aesthetic, style, personality and vibe, when it comes to being a public figure.
Silver: Well, I have a smaller snout and bigger boobs now. I also finally have a bank account that can keep up with my fashion style too. It’s rubbish being poor and refusing to wear anything other than YSL. You’re naked a lot.
That being said, my personality hasn’t changed a bit. I still have a generous ego and a loud mouth like I did when I started. The only thing that has changed is my perspective. I used to only want to aim for the ceiling, believing there was only so much I could achieve, but camming and modeling has shown me I can have whatever I like. I’ve lost a few friendships along the way, my goals superseded theirs, but surround yourself with people that push you and you’ll go further, right?
XBIZ: You seem to enjoy the finer, more luxurious things in life, from high-end hats and stunning fashion, to fast cars. Discuss your strategy for long-term financial success.
Silver: Christ. I’m not going to lie — I’m kind of living from one fancy hat to the next. I tell myself it’s because that is part of my brand, but really I just have a very YOLO attitude to life. I work incredibly hard and network even harder. For now I am financially stable camming and am trying to build something that is going to take me to my next chapter in life. I don’t know what that is yet and I’m OK with that. I’m living in the now and I’m positive life will hand me something even better when I’m ready. People that overthink and plan the future confuse me. You’re betting on something you don’t know will happen. I’m betting on me.
XBIZ: What have been a few of your greatest achievements in the adult industry, beyond becoming an XBIZ Award-winning model?
Silver: You can’t say that! Winning an XBIZ award was one of my greatest achievements. I think my front covers are probably some of my greatest achievements in adult though. I’ve had two Penthouse front covers and three other front covers for various other publications.
XBIZ: Who are your dearest friends in the industry, and how do you find time to stay in touch with a support network?
Silver: Obviously, Elise Laurenne. Me and Elise FaceTime each other at least once a day to check either one of us is alive. Not sure I could cope without her in my life. I don’t socialize much, so I have to talk/laugh at her every day, to stay sane.
My other lifeline is Molly Stewart. We just filmed “Step Sisters,” a XXX parody movie directed and written by Molly herself. She is one of the hardest-working most driven women I know. Unfortunately, we only ever really see each other in work circumstances, as we both are so busy.
I’m very lucky to have them both. Having a friend that you know has your back no matter what has been my biggest support going forward.
XBIZ: Any grand plans for the upcoming year and beyond?
Silver: I have a couple of magazines in the pipeline and I recently shot for Playboy, which I am very excited to see. I’m nominated for Cam Performer of the Year at the Pornhub awards, so I’m stoked to attend that. Lastly, I am looking forward to XBIZ L.A. in January, especially as it’s an excuse to buy yet another overpriced, over-the-top outfit I will wear for three hours and never again.
