Mia Khalifa on Celibacy, Lust, and Healing After Porn
In CULTURED magazine's Indulgence issue, former adult film star Mia Khalifa reflects on lust as one of the seven deadly sins. She describes her brief stint in porn as driven by a need for validation rather than sexual desire. After a relationship with a partner who lacked self-control, Khalifa chose nearly two years of celibacy to regain agency over her body. During that time, she learned to distinguish between lust for acceptance and genuine human connection. She now approaches lust like jealousy or envy, rarely acting on it, though she acknowledges the value of spontaneity and risk. The piece is part of a series featuring Jamieson Webster, Dries Van Noten, Christine Sun Kim, Griffin Dunne, Brontez Purnell, and Helen Molesworth, each examining a different sin.
Key facts
- Mia Khalifa contributed to CULTURED magazine's Indulgence issue on the seven deadly sins.
- She reflects on lust as a sin that drove her decisions in her teenage years and early 20s.
- Khalifa's porn career was brief; she left as soon as she realized the gravity of her actions.
- She took nearly two years of celibacy after a relationship with a partner who didn't control his lust.
- During celibacy, she learned to differentiate between lust for validation and need for connection.
- Khalifa now views lust similarly to jealousy or envy, rarely acting on it.
- She acknowledges that overcorrecting may lead to over-analyzing risk versus reward.
- The series includes other figures like Jamieson Webster, Dries Van Noten, Christine Sun Kim, Griffin Dunne, Brontez Purnell, and Helen Molesworth.
Entities
Artists
- Mia Khalifa
- Joshua Foltz
- Christine Sun Kim
- Brontez Purnell
- Helen Molesworth
- Jamieson Webster
- Dries Van Noten
- Griffin Dunne
Institutions
- CULTURED magazine