A popular adult film starlet and Penthouse Pet is lifting the lid on her history as a devout Mormon missionary and former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Addie Andrews, a Florida-based porn star originally from the Pacific Northwest, reveals that her current role as a sexually adventurous adult entertainer is a far cry from the rigid lifestyle she led in her youth.

“I grew up with strict parents in a small town, which left little freedom except for the opportunity to join whatever church I wanted,” Andrews said.

At age 17, Andrews chose The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a.k.a. the Mormon Church, because of the church’s welcoming community and strong value system.

“I just wanted to be a good person and the LDS Church taught me many great values,” she said, “I avoided a lot of bad situations as a young person because of my involvement with the church. I still cherish some of the ethics the LDS religion emphasized, such as integrity, honesty, and kindness to others.”

“The church took me in, was so welcoming, and wanted to do well by me. I latched onto that opportunity, and when you feel you are with people who care about you, you mold yourself to their way of life.”

Andrews went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Brigham Young University, named after the 19th Century LDS leader who led the Mormon Pioneers to settle the Utah territory.

The LDS church maintains a large missionary program, and Andrews proselytized in a stateside mission for 18 months. “I felt the most fulfilled when I was physically helping people,” she recalled. “I really believed in the philosophies I was teaching, but just helping people clean up their backyard or put shutters upon their windows would absolutely make my day.”

Mormon missionaries must strictly adhere to church laws, including its mandate of sexual purity. Andrews revealed she’d only had sex one time, at age 17, before joining the church, and then not again until she was 26.

“I was very sexually repressed! You’re essentially a nun, devoted to your religion for that period of time,” Andrews said.

“The problem is not just that pre-marital sex is denied,” Andrews adds, “but that they make it out to be a very serious sin and shameful thing to do. It creates awkward and guilt-ridden young adults. That’s what repression does.”

“The deeper I got into the religion, the farther from my own identity I got,” Andrews said. “Religious culture has a way of doing that to you. You want to fit in, and to belong.”

Andrews also came to feel that she was alienating herself from her own family. “My family would be watching a movie on Sunday, and I’d say, ‘Sorry, I can’t watch, it’s the Sabbath.’”

A turning point came in 2014, when Addie’s sister asked her to be a bridesmaid at her wedding.

“In the Mormon Church you wear a garment under your clothing. The only times you don’t wear your garment are the Three S’s: swimming, sports, and (marital) sex. Technically, if I were to be a faithful Mormon I couldn’t wear the bridesmaid dress because it was ‘immodest’. So, I had to turn it down.”

As a result of her inability to participate in her sister’s wedding, Andrews started reconsidering her choice to be a Mormon. “It made me think about why I was there, what was I gaining from it.” She began rekindling her passion for singing, dancing and acting, and stopped attending church in 2017.

“I’m not anti-Mormon,” Andrews said. “They’re incredible people and very sincere. But unfortunately, their religious culture is very rigid. I left because I accepted that their recipe for happiness, which works for a lot of people, does not work for me.”

In November 2018 Andrews moved to California to follow her dream of mainstream acting, but had difficulty finding a job to make ends meet while she pursued her ambitions.

“I ended up flat broke. I had a bachelors and I couldn’t even find a waitressing job,” Andrews said.

Andrews identified sex work as a viable option. She began webcamming, and posted on an adult jobs website to promote her shows and look into opportunities as an exotic dancer. “I was so innocent, I had no idea I was supposed to go to the club and apply! I put my portfolio up, and I started getting contacted by a lot of porn agents.”

She flew to Florida to meet with an agent in January 2019 and discovered rapid success and personal fulfillment in the adult industry.

“It goes to show that you should question what you have been taught in life. Sex work has been so empowering, and I am so excited for my life to actually get started.”

Andrews said her family is supportive of her new career.

“My family has always known that I was interested in entertainment,” Addie said. “I knew that they’d be a little shocked when I told them about my adult work, but I’m blessed with a very open-minded and understanding family. My brother said, ‘I will definitely never watch your porn, but you seem happier than ever so I support your decision.’”

“I feel appreciated as a woman for sharing what I have with my fans,” Andrews said. “Women can feel shamed or disrespected for being sexy, but in this career, I’m celebrating my sexuality, which to me is one of the best parts of being a woman.”

“I have the financial ability to put myself where I want to be. I never had that before. Being an independent woman and not having to rely on anyone else; to live a good life and contribute to society, that’s what pornography has given me. And it’s given me a sex life!”

Photos of Addie Andrews can be accessed here for publication: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZKq6N9S5uSOeUpdaN4lyjqF7rrPFLZuA?usp=sharing