University student who turned to porn to pay tuition fees bravely identifies herself online as Belle Knox

A University student in America who turned to porn to fund her education has identified herself online as Belle Knox.

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by Ellie Hooper |
Published on

The student, who unveiled herself using her stage name Belle, was the subject of a university newspaper article last month - when a male classmate outed her a porn star to fraternities and sororities on campus.

Writing in a column for XOJane.com, Belle wrote: 'My decision to do porn to pay for college was a private one I made, and then I was outed to my university classmates by another Duke student who had seen me on the Internet a few months ago.'

'He proceeded to reveal who I was to the entire Greek system…I started to be harassed. He started to be applauded.'

Belle was then subjected to a hate campaign from people at her university, with some students threatening to 'kick her in the face,' or suggesting that she kill herself.

Belle posted this message to her Tumblr page

'The message repeated to me seems clear: "You are not a human being. You have no rights or feelings. You are simply a nuisance. You have to stay silent. No matter what, just stay silent."'

Belle's problems began when he classmate Thomas Bagley confronted her claiming he has seen her in an adult film. She admitted to being the girl in the video, but swore him to secrecy.

Unfortunately for Belle, Bagley told her secret at a fraternity event and news quickly spread.

Explaining her decision to do adult films, Belle said: 'I couldn't afford $60,000 in tuition, my family has undergone significant financial burden, and I saw a way to graduate from my dream school free of debt.'

She added that: 'My experience in porn has been nothing but supportive, exciting, thrilling and empowering.'

Belle also hit back at claims she was being degraded by doing porn, saying: 'I can honestly say that I have never felt more empowered or happy doing anything else.'

The aspiring lawyer even asked people to examine why women's sexuality is treated with 'such disdain.'

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