Mia Khalifa

Mia Khalifa (Arabic: ميا خليفة [ˈmijaː χaˈliːfa(h)]; born 1993) is a Lebanese-American media personality and former pornographic film actress. Rising to prominence in late 2014, she became one of the most searched performers on Pornhub after a controversial scene featuring a hijab sparked global attention drawing both widespread popularity and backlash.

Despite her brief three-month career in adult films, Khalifa was voted the "Number 1 Porn Star" on Pornhub in 2015. In January 2017, xHamster reported that she was the most-searched-for adult actress of 2016. In 2018, she became the most-searched-for actress on Pornhub.

After leaving the adult industry, Khalifa has worked as a webcam model, OnlyFans creator, and sports commentator. She launched her own line of jewelry in 2023. Khalifa has also advocated for sex workers' rights.

Early life

Khalifa was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and raised Catholic in what she described as a "very conservative" home. She attended a French-language private school in Beirut, where she also learned to speak English. Khalifa's family left their home in the wake of the South Lebanon conflict, moving to the United States in 2001.

After moving to the United States, her family lived in Montgomery County, Maryland, where she played lacrosse in high school. She has said she was bullied at school for being "the darkest and weirdest girl there", which intensified after the September 11 attacks.

She attended Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia, and later graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor of Arts in history. She supported herself there by working as a bartender, model, and "briefcase girl" on a local Deal or No Deal–esque Spanish-language game show.