Momo Chavez is an American-Filipina currently residing in Melbourne, Australia. She attended the University of Melbourne and studied English, then ditched this to follow her dreams of working in publishing. She now works at a publisher by day and as a pole fitness instructor by night. Stripped is Momo’s debut novel, and she hopes this is the first of many books.

A bit about Stripped:

Everyone wants to know the secrets of a stripper, but no one is willing to pay the price…

Ever since her mother left, Annie Wilson has felt estranged from her home. She’s still stuck in the same town with the same memories, but without any family. Annie dreams of getting on a plane and never looking back – but she never imagined stripping would fast-track that dream.

Annie falls headfirst into the red-light district and vows not to tell a soul. But when she starts dating outside of work, the lines begin to blur. As time goes on, Annie struggles to separate her personal life from her stage persona. How can she keep the two worlds separate?

We chatted to Momo Chavez about Stripped, sex work in storytelling and her journey with self-publishing.

Archer Magazine: Hi Momo! Thanks for chatting to me today. Can you introduce us to your novel, Stripped, and explain your inspiration behind it?

 Momo Chavez: Stripped is a sex-positive story about feminism, friendship and the family we find for ourselves. It’s a raw, honest story of lived experience and the inner workings of strip club culture and the Australian sex work industry.

In Stripped, we take a peek at what it’s truly like to work the night shift when the lights go low. It’s also New Adult fiction – our main character is only 18 and fresh out of high school, and our first impressions are through her eyes. There is good and bad that comes with having big firsts at a club, and that impacts you as a woman stepping out into the world. Stripped doesn’t shy away from any of it.

AM: We really liked how this story focuses on LGBTQIA+ sex workers, including an aro-ace character in Karima. Can you speak to the importance of these representations?

MC: Stripped has a big cast of queer characters. We have woman x woman scenes on stage, but also dancers who date each other outside of the club. Our main character, Annie, is bisexual, but has only previously had romantic/sexual experiences with women. Her introduction to the male gaze is at the club.

Karima, her best friend, identifies as aro-ace and [throughout the book] navigates expressing her own body and sensuality. Karima loves working at the club, and wants to establish clear boundaries to have a healthy relationship with work. It was important for me to include contrasting experiences to see how all kinds of dancers find autonomy in a workplace that centres sex.

AM: What do you hope Stripped can illustrate to readers about sex work and feminism?

MC: There are more sex workers in your life than you might realise! Listen and hear them without caveats. Dancers don’t need to be saved, and aren’t here to be your cautionary tale or punchline.

AM: Can you talk of the significance of family (including chosen family) in Stripped?

MC: Found family is very important in my life, and that echoes in the bonds and friendships in Stripped. The story is based on my own experience of having to leave home at 14 years old, and my experiences with my mother.

In real life, I have a beautiful found family who took me in and gave me a new start. Annie doesn’t have that family in the book, but she has Karima and the women she meets at the club.

AM: Can you tell us about the self-publishing process? What was involved in making this book come to life?

MC: Self-publishing was a long process (four years!), but it was worth every second and penny. I started on the manuscript when I was 19 years old and working 80-hour weeks. I remember scribbling paragraphs on napkins at any of my three jobs. A couple years later, I worked with an editor and a cover designer to bring the vision to life.

The reception to my book was so much warmer than I could have imagined, and made my story feel very welcome.

AM: You’ve previously discussed that mainstream publishers/agents were reluctant to take on a book about sex work. Do you think this is changing?

MC: I am extremely lucky to now be represented by my two dream literary agencies: Curtis Brown in Australia and New Leaf Literary in the USA. It’s worth noting that I was previously rejected by 200+ agents in 2020, with the main feedback being that the book was “too dark” and there was no market for it.

Fast-forward a few years later, and I was signed after the book was originally self-published. Sometimes, it takes bringing a book to life yourself to show the world that there’s real appetite for a story. And here in 2025, a movie like Anora can win seven Oscars. The world is changing every day and opening their eyes – sex work is work!

AM: What are some of your favourite books written by sex workers? What stories would you like to see more of in future?

MC: We need more stories written by sex workers for sex workers! I loved Come by Rita Therese, Down the Drain by Julia Fox and How Was It For You? by Eve Smith.

AM: I recently learned that you were a BookTuber for a whole decade! How has being a BookTuber shaped your reading and/or writing habits?

MC: I was indeed a BookTuber for an entire decade! I started my YouTube channel when I was 13 years old, and made book reviews in my bedroom for over 10 years. It definitely helped with my self-publishing experience and also entering a career in corporate publishing. Growing up on BookTube made sure that I understood the importance of #OwnVoices stories and putting people and diversity first.

AM: What’s next for you? Do you have any writing projects currently in the works?

MC: I have just finished the first draft of my brand-new book! This will be a departure from sex work, but will still tackle women’s rights and reproductive health. It’s a feminist horror and more than a little spooky. Hoping to go on submission for traditional publishing next year…

Stripped is available for purchase worldwide via Amazon, and signed copies can be ordered via @momochavezz on Instagram.