In her time as a ‘Sugar Baby’ Brooke has received lavish gifts totalling Ksh 3,000,000 including an expensive laptop, flights and even a dog.
But the 26-year-old from doesn’t classify her work as ‘prostitution’ and argues there is a clear difference between them.
THE MOST SURPRISING THING ABOUT THESE RELATIONSHIPS TO OUTSIDERS IS THAT THEY DON’T INVOLVE SEXUAL SERVICES, IT’S ABOUT COMPANIONSHIP,
‘Sleeping with men for cash is just prostitution and I’m going to need some of us to be honest about that. Prostitution and Sugars are two separate things.’
She said that she meets her ‘Sugar Daddies’ at the strip club she dances in and makes a choice about whether they’re someone she wants to engage with.
REGULARS ARE MEN THAT I MET IN STRIP CLUBS, OVER NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, DEVELOPING A FAMILIARITY THAT WAS ORGANIC AND TANGIBLE; AND IF AT ANY POINT I WASN’T COMFORTABLE I COULD REMOVE MYSELF OR THEM FROM THE SITUATION
‘It’s not necessarily easy money though – there are definitely men that can become intense and controlling, creating a pretty toxic situation if you don’t know what you’re doing and how to manage that.
‘I have noticed a trend of “everyday” women engaging in the online trends which does worry me, especially for young girls who clearly skipped the “stranger danger” seminar at school.’
Initially interested in the ‘obvious financial gain’ as well as just plain ‘idle curiosity’, she said there are discrepancies about the type of men she is meeting.
THERE’S A HUGE MISCONCEPTION THAT SUGAR DADDIES ARE DECREPIT 80-YEAR-OLDS WITH AN OXYGEN TANK OR SKIN CONDITION IN TOW, IT’S JUST NOT TRUE
‘Majority are in their 40s and in the age of “d*** pics” and the online equivalent of “cat calling”, having a man that could actually hold a conversation, that genuinely just wanted to help me achieve or obtain certain things and was in a position to do so – felt pretty good.’
The ‘regulars’ that she speaks to sometimes give her bookings ‘every few weeks’ while others just prefer to give her gifts in the way of perfume, shoes, jewellery and cash.
I’VE KNOWN OF CARS AND BREAST IMPLANTS BEING PAID FOR, AND I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE LATEST IPHONE, A MACBOOK PRO, RETURN FLIGHTS AND ACCOMMODATION TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND MY FRENCH BULLDOG
But not every ‘Sugar Baby’ is the same and neither is what they’re willing to do.
‘Online Sugar Babies on websites like Seeking Arrangement essentially skip straight to whatever agreement both parties accept,’ she explained.
‘While that site has kind of been hijacked by inexperienced girls with no clue, and guys who just want to hook up, there are other sites dedicated to more traditional forms that are initiated and maintained online, commencing with both parties outlining the terms of what they can each expect and refuse from the relationship.’
And she has no issue with the business, so long as the correct safety precautions have been taken and the women understand what they want from the outset.
WITH THE INCREASING RATE OF STUDENT LOANS, HOUSE PRICES AND AVOCADOS, THE AGE OF THE INTERNET AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP HAS POPULARISED THESE KINDS OF SITUATIONS PROVIDING SUGAR BABIES WITH FAIRLY REGULAR INCOME STREAMS ON THEIR TERMS, WITH FLEXIBLE HOURS AND PLENTY OF BONUS GIFTS AND EXPERIENCES ALONG THE WAY,
‘If both parties are informed, consenting and equipped to manage their agreement – then maybe the question shouldn’t be “why do I?” but instead “why aren’t you?”‘