Fresh Faces: Cleo Moon

This feature appears in the April issue of AVN magazine. LOS ANGELES—Cleo Moon had been waitressing for six years across three states when she discovered OnlyFans in 2020. The content subscription platform, experiencing a colossal boom fueled by people’s need for entertainment and work opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic, appealed to Moon’s expressive nature while holding entrepreneurial promise.    Several solo and “silly” dance videos later, the budding starlet was over the moon watching her following on social media grow and her OF subscriptions skyrocket. “It was a confidence boost,” Moon said. “It was cool to see that people enjoyed my work as much as I enjoyed making it. It’s hard when you’re putting out content you might love and be proud of, but it’s not getting any recognition. You’re like, dang, is it worth it? I was lucky to have the support that I did.” Four years later, Moon was ready to dig deeper into the business of show. Inspired by the success of her best friend, performer Scarlet Skies, the Arizona native decided to give the adult industry a shot.  “It was such a drastic change from the life we lived in Arizona,” Moon recalled. “It was amazing to see what she had done for herself and how happy she was. I said, ‘Tell me how to get into this industry! Tell me the safest way to do it, who to avoid, and how to do it ethically so that I can be confident in my work.’ She helped me navigate that until I chose an agency.” For Moon, now represented by Coxxx Models, her decision to do porn felt instinctual. “I’ve always been a sexual person,” she said. “When I was very young, I looked at things I shouldn’t have, and that curiosity carried into adulthood. I wanted to explore more of my sexuality and be more expressive.” The 24-year-old starlet has never felt apprehensive on a set, not even on her first shoots. “There wasn’t this moment or any moment when I thought, ‘I don’t know if I should be doing this,’” Moon said. “It just felt natural. Yes, there are times when I get nervous. I get nervous about forgetting a line or not performing how they need me to. But I’m never nervous about what’s going to happen. I’ve never been uncomfortable or thought, ‘Whoa, can I really do this?’” Only a year into her adult movie career, Moon is eager and excited for what may come next. “Porn is always going to provide insight into different things,” Moon explained. “Maybe, there’s something right now that I probably would never do, but after incorporating that in a scene—‘Okay, maybe. Maybe I would like that.’ I’m open to the different ideas and kinks that porn offers me.” Of course, some fantasies can’t be indulged on camera. “I want to be cucked really bad,” Moon said. “I want to be the [cuckquean]. I want to watch somebody that I’m in a relationship with or have an attachment to get fucked by somebody else. I don’t want it to be a production because I want it to be real. I want it to be with someone I actually like or I’m actually with, and now they’re getting fucked by somebody else and they’re really, really liking it! That’s hot. “But once you bring a camera into it, once you bring production or dialogue, I can’t enjoy it,” Moon lamented. “I mean, I’m open to doing a cuck scene…but it wouldn’t be fulfilling the fantasy.” If there’s one thing that has surprised Moon in her newly found porn career, it’s the unexpected support she’s encountered. “There’s always going to be people who don’t support the industry, but when you’re actually in it, more people support you, even if they’re not in the industry.” Photography by @kogafoto