Amanda Goff, once dubbed Australia’s most famous escort, has shared her story of leaving family life to pursue a career in sex work and later overcoming mental health challenges.
Writing in a recent column for the Daily Mail, Goff, 51, explained how she transformed into her alter ego, Samantha X, after separating from her husband and raising two children.
Goff said boredom and dissatisfaction with her suburban life led her to the adult industry. “I had a normal job, a lovely home, and a beautiful family… I called it prison,” she wrote, describing feelings of restlessness despite having what many would consider a perfect life.
Her career as an escort brought financial success and luxury travel, and she eventually launched an agency for women over 40. However, Goff admitted that behind the glamorous lifestyle, she struggled with addiction to male attention and undiagnosed bipolar disorder, which contributed to her “frenetic love life” and risky behaviour.
Reflecting on her past, Goff said she often sought validation from men and confused sex with love. She also revealed suffering from post-natal depression, anxiety, and anorexia while raising her children without close support.
In 2023, Goff retired from the adult industry and sought treatment for her bipolar disorder. “Being medicated feels like putting glasses on for the first time and seeing reality clearly after a lifetime of blurred lines,” she said.
Today, Goff has returned to journalism and works part-time as a Pilates instructor. She said she has repaired family relationships and found personal happiness, emphasizing that she was not “bad at love” but unwell, and is now learning what healthy relationships look like.
