Katija Cortez used to grind through 60-hour work weeks as an overworked accountant, yet still struggled to cover her bills.
Today, the 29-year-old from Sydney is living a completely different life jet-setting around the world, owning two homes, and earning in an hour what she once made in an entire week. Her secret? Ditching spreadsheets for escorting.
Katija, who now boasts over 17,000 Instagram followers under @playmatekatija, never imagined her career would take such a dramatic turn.
I don’t think anyone grows up wanting to be an accountant,” she says. “I thought it was a secure path, something my parents would respect. But I was exhausted, and the money just wasn’t worth it.”
She spent seven years stuck behind a desk, juggling 12-hour days and weekend shifts for a paycheck of £610 a week.
Things changed after a friend, also entering the escorting industry, encouraged her to give it a try. Inspired by Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Katija dipped her toes in—and quickly realised just how lucrative it could be.
At first, I had younger clients who wanted a party companion. But when I started seeing older men who valued good company and intimacy, the real money started coming in.”
Now, Katija earns what she once made in a week during a single hour. She spends her days however she pleases sometimes it’s lunch dates or theme park visits with clients, other times it’s travel, content creation, or just relaxing.
With sex work legal in much of Australia, Katija is open about the reality of her role, admitting she sleeps with “99%” of her clients.
Her career shift remained a secret from her family for years. When she finally told them, reactions were mixed. Her mother, a psychology professor, was disappointed.
But her tradesman father? “He was actually kind of excited,” she says. “They both thought I was still on the path to becoming a partner at my firm. It was a shock.”
These days, Katija’s life is a far cry from early mornings and packed commuter trains. She’s travelled to the US, Singapore, and Bali, owns investment properties, and was crowned Playboy’s Playmate of the Year in 2023. She even launched her own podcast.
Despite the drastic career change, she credits her time in corporate finance with giving her the discipline and professionalism she now applies to her business.
That job wasn’t glamorous, but it taught me how to work hard. Now I have the freedom to design my life exactly how I want it,” she says. “If I want to hit the gym, go for beauty appointments, film content, or just do nothing all day I can. It’s an incredible life.”
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