Joanna Angel

Porn star, adult model, director, writer, entrepreneur, and former exotic dancer.

At age 17 she enrolled in Rutgers University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature with a minor in film studies.

She worked in a fast food restaurant during high school, then at an Applebee's and another restaurant during college.

After finishing her degree she relocated to the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, and created the website BurningAngel, a hardcore adult site catering to an emerging genre dubbed "alt porn" while she danced as a stripper at night. Her website followed in the footsteps of the very popular SuicideGirls—which she referred to as "the McDonald's of alt porn." When asked whether she thought that alt porn was turning into a movement, she stated, "I think it's a movement. I think I've started something."

Joanna has written, produced, directed, and starred in films available exclusively through BurningAngel, as well as appearing in more traditionally distributed adult films. She was under an exclusive contract with VCA Pictures, which expired in March 2007, and was, at one time, represented by the adult talent agency Bad Ass Models.

She briefly wrote a monthly sexual-advice column for Spin. She also contributed a chapter to the book Naked Ambition: Women Pornographers and How They Are Changing the Sex Industry.

Angel dated fellow porn star James Deen for six years, between 2005 and 2011. On December 2, 2015, she appeared on The Jason Ellis Show to give more details about her "violent and scary" six-year relationship with Deen.

Angel married fellow adult film actor Aaron "Small Hands" Thompson on October 31, 2016.

Joanna was a natural 34C until February 2020, when she had her breast enlargement.

As of March 2026, Joanna has amassed 2.4 million followers on Instagram and 150,100 followers on her TikTok platform.