This Is What It's Actually Like To Be A Professional Dominatrix

Instead of safe words, Kristina Marlen goes by the stoplight system.

Allow us to introduce you to Kristina Marlen, a professional dominatrix from Berlin. Earlier this month, she visited BuzzFeed Germany to talk about her profession.

Kristina Marlen / Via Facebook: kristina.marlen.professional

We asked her 10 questions about the daily routine of being a professional dominatrix — and here’s what she said:

BuzzFeed Germany

1. How does an appointment typically work?

BuzzFeed Germany

"We discuss what your interests are via email. You'll then come to my studio, or we'll rent one. First you'll take a shower, and when you come back, we'll have a great session that you won't forget for a long time. And then at some point I'll neatly lead you out of the situation again as well. After that, you'll have some time to rest and we can talk about your experience. –And before all of that, you pay me, of course. We should never forget about that. 😂"

2. What's the weirdest thing to ever happen to you on the job?

BuzzFeed Germany

"I once had a call where I went to a hotel to meet a Muslim client who wanted to be dominated. Since his beliefs didn't allow him to touch any woman he wasn’t married to, he had to marry me first. So basically he proposed to me on site. And I have to say, I tried many things over the course of my career, but at first, this put me right at my limit. In the end, I decided to approach it all with a bit of humor. He had to pay extra though. And he promised to divorce me afterwards."

3. Describe your favorite tool/toy to use.

BuzzFeed Germany

"It would have to be the rope. You see, I'm a really very passionate about tying people up. Whoever walks into my office has to watch out not to get tied up. I stick to "safe, sane, consensual,” of course. 😉"

4. What's your favorite part of the job?

BuzzFeed Germany

"I like the physical contact. I am a very physical person. Well, I love touching people. I need a lot of skin contact. I love giving that. I like the needs of people, and I like their desire. And I like figuring these out and going on a research trip: What are they after? What's fun for them?"

5. What's the best and the most annoying thing about wearing latex?

BuzzFeed Germany

"Latex looks awesome and feels really hot. But putting it on, taking care of it, and sweating like a pig in it are all annoying. I used to work in a club where I wore a latex dress, and when I had to sit down on a sofa from exhaustion, there would be a puddle on the sofa when I got up. I suppose that can have an erotic appeal as well. There certainly is somebody out there who's into that."

6. What was the most luxurious thing to happen to you on the job?

BuzzFeed Germany

"I have a couple of clients who really like me very much. So recently I was giving some lessons in Asia and got invited along to Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. And one of my favorite customers paid for my hotel rooms for the entire trip in the Mandarin Oriental, Intercontinental, and Mandarin Oriental again. That was luxurious! Unfortunately, I don't get that every day though."

7. What safe words do you use?

BuzzFeed Germany

"I like the stoplight system: red, yellow, green. Red means stop. When somebody says ‘red,’ I immediately stop. Yellow means: Oooh, I am somewhere it feels very intense, please don't stop! But please don't take it any further. That allows us to operate in the intermediate range. And if I don't know how far I can go with someone, I’ll ask. And if the person replies "green," that means: 'Please continue!'"

8. Do you have to do things that you find disgusting?

BuzzFeed Germany

"Some things aren't that pretty. But it usually can't be helped, and I'll pull through. I mean, not everybody has a pleasant smell — there's no other way of putting it."

9. What's the best thing a customer has ever said to you?

BuzzFeed Germany

"The feedback from people saying that my service really hit the spot. When they are taken back to some distant, lost place, or a get to have a deeply rooted desire quenched — those are the moments I feel meaningful doing my job."

10. And finally, what is the most exhausting part of your job?

BuzzFeed Germany

"Advertising. Accounting. Taxes! Oh god! 😂 Being self-employed. All that administration!"

Interest piqued? You can follow Kristina Marlen on Facebook.

And don't forget to check out...

– 17 Truths About What It's Actually Like To Be A Stripper

– 12 Secrets That Someone With A Balloon Fetish Won't Tell You

For more translated content and BuzzFeed International goodness, subscribe to Inter Webz: our new bi-weekly newsletter bringing you the best of the 'net from around the world.

This post was translated from German.