A MUM who works in a legal brothel claims that Christmas is her busiest time of year and she even enjoys full turkey dinners, games nights and swapping gifts with her favourite clients.
While many people around the world have already put their out-of-offices on, Allissa Starr is eagerly gearing up for a busy week of visits at the ranch where she works.
Single blokes who are unable to see their family over Christmas regularly book in to see the 37-year-old at the luxury Sheri's Ranch in Nevada, US, to ensure they're not lonely this Christmas.
But it's not just business as usual, with clients bringing sacks of gifts, stocking stuffers, sweet treats and even their own Christmas trees to give their visit a festive touch.
Allissa, from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, said: "Of course Christmas is fun with the decorations and makes you feel good anyway.
"So to be able to experience that with your job at the same time is a joy.
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"In the holiday season, it's the time where people are either lonely or stressed.
"I get customers that are single men that don't have a lot of family or some people have passed on and want someone to celebrate with.
"Some travel a lot for work anyway so they don't have family to celebrate with and they come and live with us.
"I've had customers bring in a fake Christmas tree and we celebrate our own Christmas.
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"They bring little chocolates and things we'd get in our stockings for Christmas to remind you of that holiday spirit.
"We can also share special dinners with wine, it's a complete Christmas experience for us both.
"They love being able to see me happy and opening up their gifts and of course I love it too.
"It's heartwarming, it brings me back to those times as a kid when it was a surprise, it's fun to see how happy they get.
"It definitely feels like the Christmas spirit of receiving things and little surprises."
Allissa, who has worked at Sheri's for 14 years, revealed that one client once travelled two hours with a small fake Christmas tree just to 'surprise' her - like Santa on his sleigh.
Allissa said: "It was special for him to make sure we had a Christmas together.
"He brought presents and a little Christmas tree already decorated.
"It was a real surprise and we shared it like we were having a real Christmas together.
Are brothel's legal in the UK?
There has been a growing debate in the UK about whether brothels should be legalised, following the emergence of pop-up brothels across the country. These temporary establishments, often set up in residential areas, have sparked concerns among local communities and law enforcement agencies. The current legal framework in the UK criminalises the operation of brothels, but individual sex work is permitted. This has led to a complex and often problematic situation for those involved in the industry.
Advocates for legalising brothels argue that regulation could improve safety and working conditions for sex workers. By bringing the industry out of the shadows, they believe that sex workers would have better access to health services and legal protection, reducing the risks of exploitation and violence. Furthermore, regulated brothels could be subject to health and safety standards, ensuring a safer environment for both workers and clients.
On the other hand, opponents of legalisation worry that it could lead to an increase in human trafficking and exploitation. They argue that normalising the sex industry might encourage more people to become involved in it, both as workers and clients. Additionally, there are concerns about the impact on local communities, with fears that legalised brothels could lead to an increase in crime and antisocial behaviour in residential areas.
As the debate continues, it is clear that there are no easy answers. Balancing the rights and safety of sex workers with the concerns of local communities and broader societal impacts remains a complex challenge. Policymakers will need to carefully consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of legalising brothels in the UK, taking into account the experiences of other countries that have taken similar steps.
"I walked in and I was like 'oh my gosh'. It was so thoughtful. It's like Santa's sleigh.
"It was the client's way of experiencing Christmas and feeling less lonely, giving joy and being able to share that with someone.
"I also can dress up in festive costumes including elf ones - I'm short so it's easy for me."
She revealed another client once gifted the ranch $2,000 - or an eye-watering £1,600 - in gift cards so they could donate presents to Toys for Tots, a charity supporting disadvantaged children.
Allissa said: "One time a client gave us thousands of dollars' worth of gift cards, it was awesome.
"A couple of us girls went to Walmart shopping for Christmas and it all went to toys for tots, that was fun."
While Allissa books the 25th off so she can spend time with family, she says it's a 'joy' to work over the festive period.
Allissa said: "It's important to me. It's a joy to be able to fulfil it and it's an experience itself to see what it does to them and make their heart full.
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"Working during the holiday is worth it to be able to buy presents for my own daughter and my family and to be able to take the time off during the holidays.
"It makes it worth it for me to go through the one week and be able to provide for my family. We have shifts and we can take down time."