From psychology student to powerhouse manager of one of Europe’s largest legal brothels – all sparked by one random newspaper article at age 22 – Catherine de Noire is proof that life loves a plot twist. Nearly ten years in, she’s still debunking myths, laughing at the wildest client fantasies (polar bear costume, anyone?), spotting the occasional hypocritical politician, and reminding us that what people really crave is to be seen, heard, and never judged. Grab a glass of red (she’d approve), get comfy with her two Bengal cats in spirit, and dive into this refreshingly candid, zero-shame conversation.
I am the manager of one of the largest brothels in Europe, a researcher focused on sex work, an OnlyFans creator, a cat mom to two lovely Bengals, and a red wine lover :D.
You know how life is often shaped by small coincidences? I was originally studying psychology and planned to specialise in neuropsychology. I was deeply interested in diagnostic processes of cognitive deficits such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. I directed my bachelor’s thesis toward that field and completed an internship at one of the largest hospitals in the country.
Then I came across a newspaper article about a brothel manager who was also a psychologist. He spoke about his profession and about running this type of business with respect toward sex workers. I finished reading the article and, by the end of it, I knew I wanted to do the same. I was instantly hooked. That same evening, I looked up the company he worked for and emailed them to ask for a job.
I knew nothing about the business. I knew nothing about sex work. I had no management experience. I was 22 and hadn’t even completed my bachelor’s degree yet. But I tried – and it worked.
And the guy from that article? He is now my colleague. Together, we hold the two most senior management positions. In June 2026, it will be ten years since I started this job – and I don’t regret it.
Many people still think brothels are dirty places full of drugs, that sex workers are addicted women doing this as a last resort, that clients are desperate or creepy, and that managers are pimps keeping women locked in basements and beating them.
That is often not the case – at least not in countries where this business is legal or decriminalized. Clubs are subject to strict regulations that are strictly enforced. We must meet all standards, and we are regularly inspected by authorities, including financial offices and police.
As for sex workers – most of the women I have met over the past ten years previously had other jobs. Many speak several languages, have university degrees, or run small businesses. They were not desperate women with no options. They made a rational decision: the time-to-money ratio in this work can be significantly more advantageous. There is a substantial difference between earning €4,000 a month and €40,000 a month.
The same applies to clients. We see all types of people: single, married, divorced, widowed, teachers, managers, athletes, public officials, laborers. Occasionally, women as well. I would not describe them as desperate people who cannot find a sexual partner.
There are also many stereotypes about managers. That is precisely why I started using social media – to explain what brothel management actually involves. It is not about stacks of cash, drugs, and weapons.
Yes, of course. Top-tier celebrities or politicians usually do not visit our brothel because we are too large and not private enough – too many people would see them. That does not mean they do not use sex workers’ services in general. They do, but they arrange meetings privately.
We do have many „celebrity“ athletes. I personally don’t recognize them, but the girls who follow sports always inform me. Mostly hockey players, footballers, and MMA fighters.
Once, a conservative politician visited us. I recognized him because he is from the same city as I am. He publicly advocates for traditional marriage, opposes the LGBT+ community, and promotes Christianity. During his visit, he became extremely drunk, likely used drugs he brought himself, and eventually went to a room with the sexworkers. I found that to be the height of hypocrisy.
In ten years, I have seen almost everything 😀 A client once paid a very large sum simply to spend several hours repairing a sex worker’s bathroom. Another arrived dressed as a polar bear and requested a roleplay scenario in which a worker would “hunt” him as an Inuit woman (he even brought her costume), followed by sex. Another client is aroused by watching women eat Hawaiian pizza.
I no longer label these as “weird.” I see them as creative. That creativity is one of the aspects of this work I genuinely enjoy.
Many people experience anxiety around sex – whether they have too much or too little of it, whether their body is the “right” size, whether what they like is “normal,” whether enjoying bondage or feet makes them strange. I see a brothel as a place where people can explore their fantasies without judgment. They don’t need to justify themselves or feel ashamed. They can experiment – provided everything is fully consensual for all parties involved.
It is quite common for clients to become attached to one particular sex worker and see her for years.
We have one worker whose regular client has been visiting her for fifteen years. Every week, for an entire day. At this point, it is not about sex. They go to dinners, bars, the cinema, the theatre. In many ways, it resembles a paid relationship.
But even short visits can be meaningful. A significant percentage of clients come primarily to talk. They want to be listened to. They want to confide in someone. Many seek advice. Even if they see a worker only once, the experience may stay with them for years.
That’s a complicated question, because you never really know what’s going on in someone’s relationship. These days, a wedding ring doesn’t automatically mean someone is in a strictly monogamous marriage. Quite a few married clients are in open relationships, or they’ve agreed with their partner that seeing professionals is allowed.
Even in cases where the partner doesn’t know, many of these men say they love their wife and are otherwise happy. But over time, sex has just faded out of the relationship. They don’t want to pressure their partner, and they don’t want to start a real affair that could emotionally damage the marriage. So it’s not always as simple as just calling it “cheating.”
That said, there are also clients who clearly get a thrill out of betraying their partner. It feeds their ego. Some of them talk about their wives in a pretty unpleasant way. That feels less like a relationship issue and more like a personal one – and honestly, in those cases, therapy might be a better investment.
And then there are situations I personally find hard to respect. For example, when a man comes in to “celebrate” the birth of his child while his partner is still in the hospital recovering. That, to me, is pretty shitty.
I think people simply want to be seen, heard, and not judged 🙂
