Porn Star of the Year is a broader career honor than the per-performance Best Actor and Best Actress categories. It recognizes the performer whose combined output, media presence, industry contributions, and audience reach most defined the calendar year. Nominees are drawn from across studio features, independent productions, and cam or online-first work.
Nina Rivera’s 2013 win capped a year that included the Best Actress trophy for Sunset Boulevard After Dark, multiple studio collaborations, and a widely covered branded content deal. The remaining nominees each brought distinct profiles — from Marco Vance’s feature-heavy slate to Sasha Monroe’s cross-platform reach.
The award is voted on by a combined panel of industry professionals and audience ballots, making it one of the two categories at The Sex Awards where public voting directly influences the outcome. The dual-input format is intended to balance craft recognition with genuine audience resonance.