Sarah Symonds, who rose to notoriety claiming affairs with public figures, has spoken out about the lasting impact of her early experiences as an escort, warning against the allure of easy money and glamour associated with online sex work.
Symonds, now 56, recounted her first experience selling sex at age 22 in Abu Dhabi, describing it as an impulsive decision fueled by a desire for a more glamorous lifestyle than her native South Wales offered. This initial transaction, for which she was paid around £400, marked the beginning of a decade-long career as an escort in the Middle East and London, during which she slept with hundreds of men.
"At the height of my escort work there was nothing I hadn’t done or wouldn’t do," Symonds stated. "Nothing shocked me. I had seen and heard it all and done most of it. I told myself I was in charge, but the reality was it left me feeling dehumanised and lost."
Her decision to speak out now stems from a concern about the growing popularity of platforms like OnlyFans. "So many young women think that selling sex online is no big deal, that it’s easy money," she said. "But I am here to tell them that, whatever their assumptions, it’s a slippery slope that warps your life for years to come."
Symonds believes her experiences as a commodity profoundly altered her understanding of relationships and self-worth. "I just wish I could have seen the long-term damage on so many levels," she said. "After being treated as a commodity, I saw it as the norm."
Following her time as an escort, Symonds became known in the early 2000s as one of Britain's most prominent 'other women,' alleging affairs with politician Jeffrey Archer and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. While Ramsay has denied their alleged seven-year affair, and Archer has not commented on her claims, Symonds initially appeared to embrace her notoriety, even writing a handbook for other women in similar situations.
She now sees a direct link between her escort work and her subsequent relationships with married men. "Looking back, I think it’s no coincidence that I became the other woman," she said. "I thought I didn’t deserve anything more."
Symonds detailed how her early life choices led to enduring consequences, including difficulties maintaining relationships, anxiety, depression, and alcohol dependency. She battled alcoholism and, more recently, underwent treatment for breast cancer, including a mastectomy and chemotherapy, which has resulted in a lifelong condition requiring daily medication.
Having returned to Newport, South Wales, Symonds now lives a quiet life caring for her elderly father. She reflects that the glamour and excitement of her past life were ultimately an illusion, and the long-term damage has outweighed any perceived benefits. "I hope young women can read my story and realise that a lot of what they mistake for happiness – including money and glamour – is just an illusion," she concluded.