Pass Anika on the street and I guarantee you won’t look twice.
Anika Betts is 18. And her name isn’t really Anika Betts. Her real name she has chosen to withhold, which is fair enough given she’s midway through a dominatrix apprenticeship and yet to tell her family about it.
Her apprenticeship takes the format of three sessions per week, observing and learning from pro dominatrixes at an esteemed BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism) house in Sydney, Australia.
Her upbringing was fairly regulation: she graduated from high school in 2016; lives at home with her parents and younger brother; and loves going clubbing with friends.
She has a day job, too: “I work for my Dad. It’s just a web design project. It’s hard, because I’m working three shifts there and starting Uni this year too.”
That’s in addition to her dominatrix internship.
Anika has an unofficial client, separate from her internship, with whom she practises BDSM on the side. This means as well as watching professional dominatrixes during her training, she’s able to put theory into practise with a real life client. Most dominatrix interns don’t have that luxury.
The man with whom she practises knows she’s unqualified. He knows that at this stage she has little more than an intense interest in BDSM and domination. But he’s a wealthy businessman, and her lack of qualifications don’t bother him.
Anika's dark brown hair falls behind her coffee-coloured shoulders. Her walk is one of purpose; each step gives off an indisputable air of 'I know what I'm doing'. Not in an arrogant way, but in a powerful one.