Tasty Crona – A Conversation with Crona Valentine

By Caramel Black

Images courtesy of Crona Valentine and Grooby

I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH CRONA VALENTINE’S SOLO AND HARDCORE SETS ON BLACK TGIRLS, BUT I DIDN’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HER UNTIL MY FRIEND, DIRECTOR AND FORMER PORN STAR LUCIA MATTHEWS, SUGGESTED I GET IN CONTACT WITH HER. I’VE LOST COUNT OF HOW MANY AMAZING PERFORMERS LUCIA HAS SENT MY WAY FOR INTERVIEWS AND THIS 6TH ANNUAL TRANNY AWARDS NOMINEE WAS A PLEASURE TO GET TO KNOW BETTER.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR TRANNY AWARDS NOMINATION, CRONA! THIS CEREMONY IS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE THE OSCARS OF THE TRANSGENDER ADULT INDUSTRY. DID ATTENDING THE AWARDS CEREMONY EXPOSE YOU TO ANYTHING YOU HADN’T ANTICIPATED?
Thank you! It was completely unexpected to be nominated. The awards ceremony was a fantastic experience; I look forward to attending next year and hopefully taking home an award or three. Attending the ceremony did actually teach me something, which came more from other models in the industry. It was about how quite a few models really feel about the terms used in the industry which define us, such as “Shemale” and “Tranny.” It was quite interesting to hear what other models thought about the names. I also got the vibe that the industry as a whole is pretty close knit, which is very cool!

OH YES, I ALSO FEEL THAT THE ADULT WORLD IS A VERY CLOSE KNIT FRACTION OF THE INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY TRANSGENDER. I ACTUALLY THINK IT’S GETTING TIGHTER.

The adult industry is a lot different from what I expected. I mean I knew from the get go that scenes were for the most part “acting” but I never would have guessed the extent of how things work behind the scenes. I also didn’t expect to become close to other models. I suppose I was expecting the whole thing to be more impersonal. It’s nice to have a behind the scenes network with other people in the industry, and it would be nice to have more than one gathering a year. But that’s a topic for another question!

I’M ACTUALLY NOT WONDERING IF YOU’LL WIN ANY AWARDS NEXT YEAR, BUT HOW MANY. FANS ARE LOOKING FOR A POSITIVE VIBE THESE DAYS AND FOR MORE THAN JUST LOOKS ALONE. YOU HAVE A COMPLETELY REFRESHING PERSONALITY.

WHILE WATCHING YOUR YOUTUBE VLOG, I THOUGHT YOU SOUNDED A LOT LIKE ME IN THAT I PICKED UP NO TRACEABLE ACCENT OR DIALECT. I’M CURIOUS IF YOU GET THAT, “SHE DOESN’T SOUND BLACK” STATEMENT OFTEN LIKE I DO?
I’m slacking so badly with the video blog thing. I’m super self-conscious and always end up not posting 90% of the stuff I record. I do get the, “She doesn’t sound black” thing sometimes, but it’s usually in the form of, “What ethnicity are you?” To answer that question I’m black, with a bit of Thai and East Indian, which is where I get the super cool hair from I suppose. (/insert joke about Thai nationality and being a transwoman.)

ABOUT THE TERMS YOU MENTIONED, I’M DESENSITIZED IN A WAY BY THE TERMS SHEMALE AND TRANNY BECAUSE I TALK ABOUT PORN SO MUCH. BUT THEN I HATE WHEN I’M ASKED, “ARE YOU A SHEMALE?” THEN THERE’S THE TERM “JOURNEY.” I DON’T HATE IT, BUT SOMETIMES I’M CAUGHT ROLLING MY EYES WHEN A TS BEGINS TALKING ABOUT HIS OR HER JOURNEY AND SOME FRIENDS GET REALLY MAD AT ME.  THE JOURNEY DIDN’T BEGIN WHEN I STARTED HORMONES; I WISHED I’D BEEN BORN FEMALE FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER SO FOR ME IT’S JUST LIFE. I DON’T KNOW WHEN MY JOURNEY BEGAN OR HOW IT WILL END. CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING THAT MIGHT CHANGE MY PERCEPTION OF THE TERM?

“Transition Journey” is totally not corny! I use it all the time in my personal blog. It makes sense as it very much is a journey that we travel to find ourselves.

MY JOURNEY IS FAR FROM OVER WHEN YOU PUT IT THAT WAY AND IT DOESN’T SEEM CORNY WHEN YOU USE IT. NOW, ASIDE FROM THINKING, “OH MY GOD, SHE’S SO PRETTY,” WHEN I FIRST SAW YOU, I WAS IMMEDIATELY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR STRONG SENSE OF STYLE. I USED TO WORK IN FASHION SO THAT REALLY JUMPED OUT AT ME. ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT FASHION AND WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF?
I think my hair is one of my best assets. As stated above I think it comes from the Asian side. BUUT, it’s not actually naturally as straight as an arrow. I have it treated every other month with a chemical relaxer, plus I regularly use Infusium 23 shampoo and conditioner and Mane and Tail shampoo and conditioner every other week. It keeps it super soft and silky!
Fashion is totally one of my passions. I’m very much into Asian fashion such as: Lolita, Visual Kei, Sweet Lolita, and whatever Korean’s call their fashion. It’s super cutesy, and really girly. My best friend and I build costumes for anime conventions that we attend, and she helps me with outfits that I wear for shoots as well. I must have miscalculated, I normally hit like a freight train. ;D

I’M TAKING YOUR GROOMING REGIME TIPS SERIOUSLY AND I MUST SAY THAT I’M BIG INTO COSPLAY AND ANIME MYSELF. I USED TO WEAR BLACK ALL THE TIME UNTIL ASIAN FASHION SNAPPED ME OUT OF IT. YOUR STYLE IS JUST SO ALIVE!
SO WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER PORN? WHAT DID YOU LIKE WATCHING AND WHEN DID IT OCCUR TO YOU THAT THE ADULT INDUSTRY WAS A FIELD YOU WANTED TO GET INTO?
I think I was about 14 when I looked at porn for the first time. It was actually from a Playboy magazine a friend had. This might sound odd but I’ve really only watched maybe 2 actual porn scenes in my life. I haven’t even watched my own. Is that strange? I wonder if it comes from being super self-conscious.

A LOT OF MAINSTREAM ACTORS DON’T WATCH THEIR OWN WORK EITHER. I DON’T THINK THAT’S STRANGE. AND I’LL TAKE SELF-CONSCIOUS OVER ARROGANCE ANY DAY. YOU’LL GET OVER THAT WITH TIME AND MORE EXPERIENCE.
I decided to get into the adult industry for two main reasons: One, I love trying new things, and I’m willing to try almost anything at least once. And secondly, I thought it might help me reach my goal of raising money for Sex Reassignment Surgery.

I HOPE THIS INTERVIEW WILL HELP WITH THAT GOAL AS WELL. ARE YOU STRICTLY INTO GUYS? IF SO, WOULD YOU WORK WITH OTHER TRANSSEXUALS OR GG’S FOR YOUR FANS? AS FOR ME, I’M PANSEXUAL AND GENDER AND RACE DON’T MATTER TO ME. SOME SAY I’M CONFUSED. THEY MAY BE RIGHT.
I’m a total Pansexual. I hardly find gender relevant in a romantic relationship, and I don’t see any point in limiting myself to a potential partner regarding gender/sex or race. Interesting people come in all configurations. I like to keep my doors open in hopes of falling in love with someone stimulating in mind body and spirit. It would be quite amusing if said person was a 7 foot tall purple hermaphrodite . . . with tentacles.

WHAT KIND OF GUYS AND/OR GIRLS ATTRACTS YOU? AS EYE CANDY FIRST, THEN DEEPER, I MEAN.
When it comes to guys, as far as physical traits, I prefer them be quite tall. I’m about 5’7” so the taller the better! It makes me feel dainty. I also find myself attracted to older guys as well. Older, taller, and semi-muscular, BUT that can be completely bypassed if there’s a strong mental connection. I love a guy I can connect with on various interests whether it be art, music, photography, cars, video games, or anything science/technology related really. It’s also nice when said person can bring something new and unrelated to the table.

As far as girls, I seem to have a wild attraction to gingers and blue eyes, and also a bit older than I am. I really like a woman with nice curves that I don’t have, though it makes me totally jealous. The same allure applies to girls as it does for guys when it comes to the mental attraction and connection.

WHAT’S ON YOUR PLAYLIST AND CAN YOU TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR OWN MUSIC?
My playlist consists of just about everything from Taylor Swift, to Lady Gaga, a little bit of Rip Slime, NoGod, And One, Frank Sinatra, Beethoven, and a whole lot of dubstep. I love all types of music. As a musician I feel it’s important to keep an open mind about different genres. There’s just too much to learn from all corners of the music world. I don’t even know where to being to describe what sort of music I enjoy, because I literally enjoy listening to just about everything. Just yesterday I was listening to Niyaz, which is sort of Iranian dance music.
The music I produce is more along the lines of dance, dubstep, and pop. I’m heavily influenced by Lady Gaga, and the Japanese dance duo Capsule. I often spend hours upon hours writing music in my home studio, especially when I’m feeling overwhelmed with life issues and stress. It really helps clear my mind. A few years back I was the drummer of a pretty well-known band that I won’t give any incriminating evidence about! We will all just have to be satisfied with these very bland details: It was a Metal Band out of Las Vegas. Mwahaha. I currently play drums, piano, and a sorry guitar which I’m still teaching myself. Oh and I also sing.

WHEN DID YOU START DOING YOGA AND HOW DID YOU LEARN?
I started doing Yoga consistently around December of last year. It’s a really good way for me to decompress from the day and whatever things might be troubling me. I also tend to think about and come up with ideas for future shoots while going through my routine. I never attended any yoga classes, though I really want to at some point. I’m more of a YouTube learner. I’m really not sure if there’s a right or wrong way to practice yoga, but I think I’m doing a good job!

ARE YOU CLOSE WITH YOUR PARENTS?
I am really close with my parents. They supported me 200% through my transition, which I am extremely grateful for, but they don’t know about my involvement with the adult industry…I think. As far as I know, my mother just knows I’m some sort of model. I think it’s become one of those, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell situations.

I’M NOT SURE WHERE I GOT THIS FEELING, BUT ARE YOU BIG INTO FAST CARS?
I’m REAALLY into fast cars. I use to own a 400hp Lancer Evolution that I rallied, and autocrossed! It was crazy fun, and a crazy pain in my ass. I broke a lot of things from driving it so hard all the time. In the future I would love to own a Nissan GTR, and another Lancer Evolution. I’m more into Japanese sports cars than European, though the new BMW X5’s are quite pretty.

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A HOT DAREDEVIL IN A MUSCLE CAR, ESPECIALLY ONE LIKE YOU. NOW ABOUT PIERCED NIPPLES… I LOVE YOURS! DID THEY HURT?
Oh gosh, let me tell you. I had my nips pierced in December of 2012; my right one was a breeze to have pierced, it didn’t hurt a bit, but the left one was HORRIBAD. I seriously felt the needles presence, felt it touch my nip, and then break the skin, rip through the inside, and poke out the opposite end. It was so bad. To make things worse I jumped just a bit, but enough to cause the piercing to be slightly crooked. I’m actually going to take them out, because the left one has been sort of problematic for me, and my breasts are growing rather quickly. The piercings have been causing discomfort for me, and I really shouldn’t have them pierced while going through my “Second puberty.”

ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS WHO I LOVE THE MOST IS LUCIA MATTHEWS. I DON’T KNOW REBEKA REFUSE OR JACQUES LEFEMME, BUT I REALLY ADMIRE THEM. HOW DID YOU ALL MEET?
Lucia is a doll; she’s super awesome to hang out with and is really adventurous. It’s a shame she was unable to make it to the 6th Annual Tranny Awards! I met Rebeka through Tumblr about a year ago, we became pretty good friends, and hung out during the awards show. She’s super cute, and also has a really amazing fashion sense. Jacques LeFemme I met during Buddy Wood’s party at the award show. He’s crazy handsome! I want to have his babies. Mwahaha. There’s talk about a scene that we might do for Queer Porn.

YOU DO LOVE COOKIES, DON’T YOU? WHAT ARE YOUR FAVES?
OF COURSE I LOVE COOKIES! And doughnuts. I’d have to say Birthday Cake Oreos are just about my favorite. But homemade White Chocolate chunk cookies come awfully close. Nomnomnom.

DO YOU LIKE TO COOK?
I REAAALLY enjoy cooking, and I should do it more often! The issue with me and cooking is I don’t really find cooking for only myself worth all the hassle. I used to cook quite a bit when I lived with my ex, but living alone I’m just not motivated to do it. I really enjoy cooking Asian dishes such as Fried Rice, Orange, and Sesame chicken, different styles of curry, and ESPECIALLY breakfast foods. I make pancakes like a BOSS! Other than cooking meals, I love to bake as well. I throw quite a few parties at my house and I usually bake an assortment of goods. My favorite would probably have to be brownies.

NOW THAT YOU’RE NO LONGER ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO ENTER THE ADULT INDUSTRY?

The thing that I always tell people first when they ask me this question is; be aware that whatever you do on the Internet, will always be on the Internet, especially concerning the adult industry. It’s surprising how many people never take that into account when wanting to break into the adult industry. Also, I found it important to create some sort of privacy barrier between industry related business and personal affairs. I’m not sure how true this is, but I always thought that having some sort of unique trait about how one performs in the industry might ultimately help a career. The most important piece of advice that I think I can give is to simply have fun, make friends and own it!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CANDID REPLIES, CRONA. YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT AND DESERVE SO MUCH FUTURE SUCCESS. I HOPE TO DO A FOLLOW-UP INTERVIEW WITH YOU SOON!

Follow Crona Valentine Online!

Twitter: @CronaCookie
Facebook: Crona Official
Cirque Du Memzy – A Collection of Imperfect Dreams
Crona Cookie on Tumblr [NSFW]
Crona’s YouTube Channel
tasty-crona.com