Porn For Women: Top 7 Female Porn Directors

Meet the female trailblazers reshaping the tired mainstream porn narrative and putting women first. From the romantic and sensual to the kinky and hardcore, these women are making all sorts of porn, but the one thing they share in common is valuing consent, diversity and respect. 

We all know that the majority of mainstream porn is made for and enjoyed by men. However, any suggestion that women don't indulge in watching pornography is nonsense – we're sure you agree! In fact, surveys and studies show that women are increasingly get off with erotic film: almost one-third of all PornHub viewers identify as female and scientific studies have shown that up to 75% of women aged 18-30 get their kicks watching porn. 

Of course, our tastes in porn are vary widely, but a survey by lingerie and toy chain Ann Summers found that the majority of women prefer to watch 'soft' porn (73 per cent), nearly half (47 per cent) prefer role play porn, while just 21 per cent enjoying fetish-related content.

That said, it's fair to say that most mainstream porn does not offer the female audience what we want. Scenes of physical and verbal violence against women in are pretty much standard: a 2010 study showed 88% of the most popular porn films showed physical aggression. Females often appear little more as a prop; a passive object acted upon. WTF?
 

Luckily, strong women are shaking things up in the world of porn in a bid to reshape this tired and negative narrative. There are now many highly-respected female porn directors and producers adding the much-needed woman’s voice and perspective to this previously male-dominated industry.

And these trailblazers are making all sorts of porn for women – from the romantic and sensual of 'soft' porn, to the kinky and hardcore. However, one thing these visionary female directors and champions of shared pleasure share are their aims to make films that thrill, while also valuing consent, diversity and respect.
 

7 Female Porn Directors

So, who are the female porn directors and producers shaking up the scene? Here are seven women that are boldly and ethically transforming the industry, one film at a time. 

 

1. Erika Lust

Swedish-born Erika Lust isn’t just making erotic films — this female porn director is rewriting the rulebook. As an award-winning director, producer, and author, she’s serving up steamy cinema with a fierce feminist twist. In her world, women aren’t props for male fantasy — they’re front and center, owning their desires and having a damn good time doing it.

Lust for life: Erika Lust is an award-wining female porn director

For Lust, it’s essential that women see their desires being met onscreen. “The most important message is that female pleasure matters,” Lust told Rewire. “Not because male pleasure doesn’t matter; it does too. It's because we’ve been watching for decades a type of porn that completely ignores women’s sexuality. I want to represent women who assert sexual agency, I want women to feel positive after they’ve seen my films.”

And Lust's films aren’t just hot — they’re stunning. Think dreamy settings, sultry soundtracks, and actors who radiate confidence and chemistry. And then there’s XConfessions, her game-changing project where everyday people anonymously share their wildest sex stories online, with Lust transforming them into daring short films. The result is a bold new wave of adult cinema that’s as stylish as it is sexy.

 

2. Joanna Angel

Joanna Angel is the punk-rock queen of porn who built an empire out of tattoos, rebellion, and raw creativity. At just 21, the Rutgers lit major co-founded Burning Angel, the alt-porn studio that blew up the scene with its DIY punk aesthetic and fearless originality. She didn’t just star in her films — she wrote, directed, and produced cult favorites like Re-Penetrator and Dong of the Dead, putting her at the front line of a whole new wave of adult entertainment.
 

“Erika Lust isn’t just making erotic films — this female porn director is rewriting the rulebook. She’s serving up steamy cinema with a fierce feminist twist.”

Her vision made her an icon far beyond porn. From Adult Video News (AVN) Hall of Fame honors to glowing features in Forbes, The New York Times, and Cosmopolitan, Angel proved that adult cinema could be bold, smart, and unapologetically feminist. Whether on screen, behind the camera, or writing erotic fiction, she’s redefined what it means to be a powerhouse in porn — punk attitude fully intact.

Tat's entertainment! Joanna Angel: punk-rock queen of women's porn

 

3. Paulita Pappel

Spanish-born, Berlin-based Paulita Pappel isn't just a female porn producer — she’s a whole movement in herself. With roots in queer, sex-positive feminism, Pappel started out performing in indie erotic films as an act of activism, carving out a space where desire, diversity, and consent weren’t just buzzwords but the actual foundation of the work.

She’s the founder of Lustery, a groundbreaking platform where real-life couples share their intimate lives, giving porn a refreshingly authentic and playful vibe. Pappel also runs HardWerk, a lifestyle brand that’s been shaking up the industry with feminist, art-driven hardcore porn.

Arty party: female porn producer Paulita Pappel

But Pappel's influence doesn’t stop behind the camera. She also works as an intimacy coordinator, making sure mainstream sets are safe, respectful, and all about consent. In interviews and talks, she’s refreshingly candid about sex, porn, and feminism, positioning herself as both a creator and a cultural critic. In short: Paulita Pappel is rewriting the rules of porn, proving it can be ethical, inclusive, and seriously hot – all at once.

Pappel has even given a TEDtalk on rethinking porn

4. Tristan Taormino

A jack-of-all-trades in the sex industry, Taormino was working as a sex-advice columnist before directing porn for women. A sex-positive feminist who identifies as queer, Taormino aims to challenge the traditional representation of women in porn and prioritizes female pleasure in her films. Always open-minded, she was once quoted saying: “The truth is, many people do not consciously choose monogamy; society chooses it for them, and it becomes the default.”

Her work includes the groundbreaking Chemistry – a reality-based porn series in which performers have almost total control over how scenes play out, choosing who they play with, what they do, and where and when. Taormino has also released educational films, including Expert Guide to Anal Sex and Expert Guide to G Spot. And she must be doing something right: during her lengthy career Taormino has won multiple Feminist Porn Awards (FPAs) and AVN awards.

 

5. Candida Royalle

Any list about female porn directors must include the pioneer. Candida Royalle – who died back in 2015 – was among the first women to make pornography for women. Prior to directing she was an adult film actress, and she started Femme Productions company after moving behind the camera in the 80s.

Candida Royalle didn’t just make porn — she made history. Iconic.

Royalle innovated the concept of 'couples porn'; films designed for couples to enjoy together (which, studies say, is another of the favored forms of enjoying porn for women). Even after leaving the director’s chair, she kept shaping the industry — mentoring the next generation of female directors, writing smart, approachable sex-ed books, and even designing her own line of vibrators.

 

6. Kimberly Kane

Like Royalle, Kimberly Kane made the leap from actress to director — but she did it with her own unapologetic twist. At just 23, she dropped her debut film Naked & Famous, and from then on, it was clear: Kane wasn’t here to play it safe.
 

“Any list about female porn directors must include the pioneer. Candida Royalle was among the first women to make pornography for women.”

Her movies prove that porn directed by women doesn’t have to be soft-focus or sugar-coated. Kane’s style is raw, dirty, hardcore — and undeniably hot. From bondage to gangbangs, her work dives straight into the deep end of desire. She’s not preaching feminism in neon lights, but her unique female gaze still shines through, giving her films a wild intensity that hits different.

Feet first: Kimberly Kane's style is hardcore

 

7. Tasha Reign

Tasha Reign is the ultimate mix of brains, beauty, and boss energy, boasting over 1m followers on Insta. A UCLA grad turned Playboy Cyber Girl and Penthouse Pet, she entered adult film in 2010 and quickly built her own empire. In 2012 she launched Reign Productions, not just to star in but to write and direct her own films — putting a sex-positive, playful spin on hardcore that felt fresh and female-driven. Her debut Tasha Reign Is Sexy dropped that same year, announcing her as more than just a performer — she was here to run the show.
 

 

Reign by name, reign by nature, this queen of porn is confident of the power woman in porn can take back. She told the Guardian: “The porn industry is 100% ahead of any other industry when it comes to women in power. I’ve never ever heard of an industry where women are in charge. Of course there are exceptions to the rule, but there are so many women that have creative control over their own destiny in porn, whether it’s them performing or owning their own site.”

By teaming up with Girlfriends Films for global distribution, creating adult novelties, and writing candid sex columns, Reign proved she’s as entrepreneurial as she is erotic. Her work isn’t wrapped up in heavy feminist messaging, but it’s all about fun, confidence, and women owning their pleasure on screen. In an industry often run by men, Tasha Reign staked her claim as a director, a creator, and a sex-positive powerhouse.

The Takeaway: Female Porn Directors

These women aren’t just making porn — they’re rewriting the narrative. By centering consent, diversity, and female pleasure, directors like Erika Lust, Joanna Angel, and their trailblazing peers are proving that porn doesn’t have to default to the male gaze. They’re creating work that's unapologetically hot, fiercely inclusive, and deeply respectful — reminding us that ethical erotica can be both arousing and empowering.

The mainstream industry may still be catching up, but the shift is undeniable: more and more women are claiming their place behind the camera and shaping what we see onscreen. For Popsters, that means a future of porn that feels real, safe, playful, and sexy — a future where women’s desires aren’t sidelined, but celebrated.

Images: Lustfilms - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Facebook/Joanna Angel, Link, Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link, X,, Instagram/Kimberly Kane

Do you watch any of the films from these female porn directors? Is there someone missing from our list? What kind of porn gets you wet 'n' wild? Share your thoughts with fellow Popsters in the comments below...

 

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