I steadied myself in my towering heels as I strode as confidently as I could into the dimly-lit room where a group of men were waiting.
I’d never experienced such a mix of emotions: fear, embarrassment, anxiety and, if I’m honest, a jangle of excitement.
There’s still time to back out, I told myself, as I stood in front of potential clients in my sheer black negligee, fishnet stockings and heels with a bow.
I was convinced there was no way anyone would pick a mature lady out of the line-up when there were so many young, gorgeous girls on offer.
Was I making a terrible mistake?
There was Scarlett and Nina, who were both tall with dark hair; a petite woman named Julie who had a cute black bob and Lany, who was a little on the goth side with lots of tattoos and piercings.
Suddenly a man stood up and walked over. He wasn’t too bad looking – in his 30s, with salt and pepper hair, kind brown eyes and a pearly, awkward smile.
He looked as nervous as I felt.
“You’re shaking!” he said, tightening his hand around mine.
“I know, I’m so sorry,” I stammered.
I led him to the room and it was as though we were just two people who’d hit it off in a bar.
If you’d told me a week earlier that I’d even consider working in a brothel, I’d have laughed, or punched your lights out.
I was a 49-year-old grandmother, for God’s sake!
Taylor Tara shot for her website.
Something had been stirring inside me for a while, thanks to a string of bad boyfriends.
The final straw was when I’d gone to pick up my partner for a camping trip, only to be told he was leaving me for another woman.
I was sick of being used for sex by emotionally unavailable men.
If these men only want me for that, they can bloody well pay for it!
I don’t know where the thought of becoming a working girl had come from, but suddenly, I couldn’t get it off my mind.
I found an ad for a brothel in the paper and much to my surprise, they were keen to give an older lady a chance.
The brothel Taylor started working at.
When I arrived for my first shift, I was pleasantly surprised to find it was clean and tidy, and everyone who worked there was very welcoming and talked me through how everything worked.
Our shifts were from 8pm to 5am. Every time a customer came in, each girl would have to introduce themselves.
We would then have to inspect the men ‘down there’ for anything that looked suspicious, then they would take a shower.
We were paid an hourly rate based on which service they wanted and anything extra would be charged on top of that.
I slept with two men on that first shift. I didn’t feel dirty or degraded like I thought I might.
Instead, I felt sexy and powerful.
I soon left my cafe job to work in the brothel. I was only there once a week, but was making twice as much as I had in five days at the cafe.
I discovered that being older worked to my advantage. Many gentlemen wanted a woman their own age, not someone old enough to be their daughter or granddaughter!
My kids Garrett, Renee and Trent were all in their 20s and I told them my new job was washing dishes in a nightclub. But I couldn’t bear lying to them and knew I had to come clean.
As I prepared to tell them, I felt more nervous than I had before that first shift.
When I first told them, their eyes all went as big as saucers. Then, Renee said, “Wow, how cool mum!”
Garrett put his arm around me. “We just want to see you happy,” he said.
After a year, I decided to leave the brothel and work for myself.
Now, I travel between regional areas like Cairns, Mt. Isa and Kalgoorlie to see my customers.
From left: Garret, Renee and Trent.
The majority are lonely and just want someone to cuddle and talk to.
I spent last Christmas Eve with a bloke named Bruce. His fantasy was to wake up on Christmas morning laying next to someone.
“I haven’t done this since my divorce 20 years ago,” he confessed, snuggling up close.
Then there was the guy who just wanted to talk for two hours.
At the end, he told me that before our session he’d planned to commit suicide that night. Luckily, I managed to talk him out of it.
Taylor’s favorite room in her first brothels.
Of course, I’ve had my fair share of clients with kinky fetishes, too. One asked me to lock him up in his shed and leave him there for three hours!
I love playing a part in helping these men feel comfortable about their own fantasies, so they can one day share them with a partner.
As many of my clients have depression, my work has made me realise I have a passion for mental health.
Between my sessions, I volunteer as an online counsellor.
I’m also passionate about removing the stigma around sex work – we’re not all alcoholics or drug addicts, forced into it against our will.
That’s why I decided to write my book Tara Mature Aussie Lady.
My kids are still supportive, and I know one day I’ll have to tell my grandchildren what I do, and that it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
I plan to continue for as long as my clients still book me. It’ll keep us both young!
Story as told to Emma Norris from Take 5.
