Dancing for the devil: an inspirational read
“An explosive memoir of transformation from a high-end stripper and escort who hit rock-bottom, turned to God, and left the sex trade to found Eve’s Angels, a ministry reaching out to women in the sex industry.
Growing up as the daughter of an NCAA Championship-winning basketball coach and a stay-at-home mom, Anny Donewald had a seemingly blessed childhood. Then, at thirteen, one of her father’s players sexually abused her, and Donewald embarked on a path toward self-destruction.
When Donewald was convinced to compete in an amateur night at a strip club, she found herself drawn into a world of drugs, money, and flesh peddlers in Michigan and Chicago—and eventually Las Vegas’ hottest XXX clubs. But the fantasy of fistfuls of hundred dollar bills quickly turned to the reality of bloodstains on bathroom floors and nights with customers in presidential suites at luxurious hotels. At an emotional breaking point and pondering the termination of her unborn son, Anny reached the gates of her personal hell. There, she found God.
Then, this long-legged, fiery blonde-haired person fought to free herself from the sex trade, and, by the healing grace of God, launched her non-profit, Eve’s Angels, which reaches out to girls who want out of the sex trade.
Dancing for the Devil takes an in-depth look at Anny’s struggles and sheds a new insider’s light on the horrible reality of the sex industry from someone who’s seen the worst of it. This captivating memoir shows how women from all walks of life find themselves trapped by the sex trade and, most importantly, explains how they can get out, start over, and find the love of Christ. Courageous and unforgettable, Dancing for the Devil is a heartbreaking story of darkness, grace, and, ultimately, redemption”.
I must say, I didn’t realise that this was a book about a person’s spiritual discovery; I am not much for religious stories. I will leave your beliefs and choices to you if you will leave mine to me.
In chapter 2 of the book there is a reference to pornography and prostitution, which startled me. It quotes: “In a recent study based on an analysis of 200 women street prostitutes … a majority of the juvenile prostitutes described family structures with the outward appearances of stability. Over three-fourths reported having a religious upbringing. Forty percent were raised by both mother and father. The younger the prostitute, the more educated the family”. And this was followed by Anny’s own statement: “Just because you grow up in what looks normal to other people doesn’t mean that it’s normal to you”. Her insight into the statement above was powerful to me. Not to mention the statistics quoted. Wow.
The quotes Anny has used in this book are staggering. One example is that the US has over 2700 strip clubs (the next contender is stated as being in the 200 range). What does this say about the moral fibre of the US? Another quote attributed to Statistic Brain: “There are an estimated 400,000 strippers in the United States, raking in over $3.1 billion for clubs across the country”.
Well, I have finished this remarkable memoir and I am left in awe of the strength and compassion of this woman. I am astounded by the way she came through her “story” when so many do not.
She is an inspiration to women of all walks of life. Not just the ones she has founded Eve’s Angels for but for the other women who hopefully will see something in this story that will make them take stock of their demons.
As I said at the beginning, I am not religious but Anny is what Christianity should be. Thank you to Howard books, via NetGalley for my ARC.
To see more about Anny click here.
Available for $29.40 via Booktopia
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