Since her brief career in adult films, Khalifa has moved into other fields, including fashion and activism, and even appeared at Paris Fashion Week 2026
Mia Khalifa has shared a new and unusual take on the idea of nudity after posting X-ray images of her body on Instagram.
The former adult film actress, who once became one of the most recognizable names in the industry, has spoken many times about wanting to regain control of her image after leaving that chapter of her life behind.
Khalifa, whose real name is Sarah Joe Chamoun, first entered the adult film industry in October 2014. She became widely known soon afterward following a controversial video where she wore a hijab and spoke Arabic, which later led to threats from the terrorist group ISIS.
Since leaving the industry, Khalifa has been open about the pressure she felt when she first entered it at a young age. She has since built a new career as an activist, fashion entrepreneur, and jewelry business owner.
She recently appeared at Paris Fashion Week for Trashy Clothing’s runway debut. During the event she wore a black dress that revealed gold-plated nipple coverings.
Not long after, she participated in an unusual photo project with SHOWstudio. The shoot featured X-ray images of her body in several poses, with Khalifa also wearing jewelry from her own brand, Sheytan.
SHOWstudio shared the photos on social media and wrote: “Icon and activist @miakhalifa reinterprets the power of the body with her SHOWstudio Boxset contribution. ‘Never-before-seen’ nudes, offer a witty and personal take on the concept of nudity, reclaiming her own image with X-Rays, wearing jewellery from her brand Sheytan.”
Mia Khalifa had a infamous, but brief, stint in the adult industrySantiago Felipe/Getty Images
The 33-year-old later appeared in the comment section of the post and replied with an X-ray image along with a white heart emoji.
Khalifa left the adult film industry in 2015. Afterward she began working on platforms such as OnlyFans, although she has continued to speak critically about her early experience in porn.
She previously explained how quickly her life changed once the videos were released.
“I became infamous by accident. I entered the adult industry in October of 2014, and very quickly I was pressured to perform in a video where the context was that I was an Arab veiled woman,” she told The New York Times while describing the sudden attention she received.
Khalifa, who is Lebanese-American, continued explaining how rapidly the reaction spread online and across the media.
“The intent was to exploit the fact that I was Arabic and spoke Arabic, and I went through with it. Not long after, I would say maybe a couple hours after it premiered, the avalanche started.”
“Every news outlet picked it up, and everybody had an opinion. I was completely out of control of my image, my reputation.”
She has also pushed back against the common belief that she earned millions during her time in the adult industry. Khalifa has said she earned only about $12,000 during that period and never received additional income afterward.
Even though she worked in the industry for only a few weeks, Khalifa has explained that the experience had a lasting effect on her life.
She said that once the videos became widely known, she could not return to her previous job without people looking at her differently.
Khalifa also discussed the emotional toll during an appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast. She said her mental health suffered to the point where hearing her own name in public sometimes caused distress.
Despite that difficult period, Khalifa has since built a successful career after leaving the industry. Alongside fellow former adult star Lana Rhoades, she has become financially successful through OnlyFans, brand partnerships, modeling work, and social media influence.
Khalifa also modelled for Trashy Clothing’s runway debut at Paris Fashion WeekPeter White/Getty Images
One important change for Khalifa is that she now chooses when and how her image appears publicly. She has said that avoiding nudity is an important part of that control.
Because of that decision, the recent X-ray images may be the closest fans will see to a revealing image from her, even though the photos present a more artistic and satirical perspective.
She previously told The New York Times in 2024: “I don’t do nudity past what I’ve done in a fashion magazine, which is like a see-through shirt or something.”
“So I feel secure, and the audience that I’ve cultivated on that platform knows what they’re in for.”
