It's a balmy afternoon in Brussels when I catch up with PussyKat – though "catch up" implies she was ever standing still. Between takes on her latest production, the 2023 VENUS "Best Film Director" winner somehow carves out time for our conversation, occasionally pausing to redirect a camera operator or adjust lighting herself. "Details matter," she says with a slight shrug, "especially when you're making 40 films a year."

This hands-on approach has defined PussyKat's remarkable trajectory since co-founding her production company with her husband in 2010. But the path that led here wasn't exactly conventional – then again, nothing about her career has been.

Her mantlepiece tells part of the story: the 2014 VENUS award for Best Asian Performer sits beside her 2018 trophy for Best International Showgirl and the 2022 Playboy magazine spread naming her September's Playmate. The 2023 VENUS for directing completes an evolution few performers successfully navigate.

"People love putting you in boxes," she says. "Asian performer, showgirl, director, producer – like you can only be one thing." She laughs, almost to herself. "I got bored with boxes pretty early on."

This resistance to categorization extends beyond her filmography. In an industry where crossover success often remains elusive, PussyKat has become a familiar face to mainstream European audiences through appearances on French television channels like NRJ12, Canal+, and RTL. When L'Obs (formerly Le Nouvel Observateur) ran a piece on celebrity culture, they mentioned her alongside Madonna and Lady Gaga – a juxtaposition that raised eyebrows but speaks volumes about her cultural penetration.

Her involvement with Child Focus represents just one facet of a public persona that has evolved strategically over fifteen years. As presenter for Belgium's BeTV (VOO) promoting VOD content, jury member for the International Championship of Bikini Carwash, and "godmother" to an Ibiza liberty club, PussyKat has cultivated a presence that transcends any single industry.

"The festival circuit changed everything," she explains, referencing her appearances at erotic festivals across Europe – from Venus Berlin to events in France, Italy, Norway, and Greece. Her 2018 EROFEST award for "Best International Public Relations" acknowledges what industry insiders already knew: few performers have managed their public image with such precision.

With over 600 media mentions worldwide and a stable production company, PussyKat could easily coast on established success. Instead, she speaks animatedly about upcoming projects and untapped markets.

"The industry keeps reinventing itself," she says. "The trick is reinventing yourself slightly ahead of the curve."

Before ending the interview, I ask what advice she'd give to performers just starting out. She pauses, considering the question with unexpected seriousness.

"Build something that's yours," she finally answers. "Performances fade. Trophies collect dust. But if you build something – a company, a reputation, relationships – that lasts. That's the difference between a career and a moment."

Perhaps that's PussyKat's most meaningful achievement – not the VENUS awards or magazine covers, but the proof that determined reinvention can transcend any boundary, even those that once seemed impermeable.