Danni Ashe is a notable figure in the adult entertainment industry, renowned for her pioneering contributions as both a performer and an entrepreneur. Ashe’s innovative approach not only transformed her career but also significantly impacted the landscape of adult entertainment on the internet.
Danni Ashe biography
Danni Ashe, born Leah Nicole Manzari on January 16, 1968, in Beaufort, situated in the U.S. state of South Carolina, is a prominent figure in the adult entertainment industry, recognised not only for her work as a model and performer but also as a pioneering entrepreneur when it comes to adult websites.
Ashe grew up in South Carolina and faced challenges during her formative years, particularly in her education. Ashe did not complete high school; instead, she began her career at 17 as a stripper in Seattle. Using a fake ID, she entered the world of adult entertainment, which would later become a significant aspect of her life and career.
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Ashe spent approximately five years working in various strip clubs in Seattle, honing her performance skills and gaining a following. However, her career took a significant turn when she moved to Los Angeles, California. There, she transitioned from stripping to modelling for men’s magazines and participating in soft-core pornographic videos.
While working as an exotic dancer, Ashe encountered a significant incident in Jacksonville, Florida, which would profoundly impact her career trajectory. In a technically non-nude club, she was persuaded by the owner and manager to perform a topless dance and to sell softcore videos of herself. This led to her arrest for “prohibited conduct”. Despite her plea of guilty and a modest fine, the experience left a lasting impression. Ashe felt unsupported by the club and her agent during this ordeal, which prompted her to reassess her career path. Following this incident, she decided to step away from stripping and seek opportunities where she could exert more control over her work and image.
Ashe demonstrated a keen interest in self-education, particularly in technology and web development. Her foray into the internet began in the mid-1990s when she was inspired to create her adult website after observing her husband’s work in the tech industry.
During a vacation, Ashe took the initiative to read The HTML Manual of Style and Nicholas Negroponte’s Being Digital. These resources equipped her with the foundational knowledge necessary to build her website, Danni’s Hard Drive, which she launched in July 1995. The site quickly gained traction, becoming one of the most visited adult websites and it was during this time that Ashe’s entrepreneurial skills began to shine.
Danni Ashe career
Ashe’s career began in the adult entertainment sector as a stripper in Seattle at 17. After several years in this role, she moved to Los Angeles, where she transitioned into modelling for men’s magazines and appeared in soft-core pornographic films. Her striking physical appearance, particularly her naturally large breasts (cup size 32FF), contributed significantly to her popularity as a performer.
Founding Danni’s Hard Drive
In 1995, Ashe launched her website, Danni’s Hard Drive (also known as Danni.com), which marked a significant turning point in her career. The website was one of the first to offer exclusive adult content directly to consumers, establishing a new model for the adult industry. Ashe’s technical skills, developed through self-study, allowed her to create and manage the site effectively. Within hours of its launch, the site experienced overwhelming traffic, leading to its migration to a dedicated server. By 2001, Danni’s Hard Drive had generated substantial profits, with estimates suggesting it was worth around $30 million at its peak.
Ashe’s entrepreneurial success did not go unnoticed. By 2003, she had built a substantial business, employing around 50 staff members and operating a large studio in Los Angeles. After building a highly successful online business, Ashe sold Danni’s Hard Drive in 2004 to John Morisano. Two years later, in 2006, Penthouse Media Group acquired Danni.com and Video Bliss Inc., the owners of the website, for $3 million.
Recognition and awards
Ashe has received numerous accolades throughout her career. In 1998, an E! Channel special titled Women of the Net described her as a “true Internet innovator”, underscoring her impact on the digital adult industry.
In 2000, she was recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “most downloaded woman on the Internet”, a testament to her popularity and the reach of her website. Her contributions to the industry were further acknowledged when she was inducted into the XRCO Hall of Fame in 2006 and the AVN Hall of Fame in 2013.
Ashe’s influence extended beyond her business success; she was featured in various media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and Forbes Magazine.
Television and film appearances
Ashe has made several appearances on television shows and in films, often portraying herself or taking on minor roles. Her television credits include:
- E!’s Wild On!
- Talk Soup
- The Howard Stern Show
- The Man Show
- PBS’s Frontline
- I Can’t Believe This Is Happening to Me!
- Bondage on Stage
- Superheroine Double Feature
In 2004, she was featured in the HBO documentary series, Pornucopia: Going Down in the Valley, specifically in the episode titled “Women on Top,” which focused on powerful women in the adult industry.
Advocacy and industry involvement
In March 2000, Ashe participated as a panel member for the COPA (Child Online Protection Act) Commission, where she addressed the topic of “Marketing Adult Materials Online”. This commission was established to examine the impact of the internet on children and to discuss the regulation of adult content online.
During the panel, Ashe shared her insights alongside other experts, including Andrew Edmond, CEO of Flying Crocodile Inc., and various law enforcement officials.
Legal matters
In September 2013, Ashe filed a defamation lawsuit against Daily Mail Online after the publication ran an article with the headline, “Porn Industry Shuts Down with Immediate Effect After ‘Female Performer’ Tests Positive for HIV.” The article was accompanied by a photograph of Ashe, even though she was not the performer in question. Ashe claimed that the use of her image in this context implied that she had tested positive for HIV, which was false and damaging to her reputation.
Ashe’s lawsuit was filed against Associated Newspapers Ltd., the publisher of the Daily Mail, and sought $3 million in damages. She argued that the newspaper had used her image without permission and also failed to provide any disclaimer clarifying that she was not the individual mentioned in the article. The article garnered millions of views and was widely syndicated, amplifying the potential harm to Ashe’s reputation.
In July 2016, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Ashe had presented sufficient evidence to proceed with her defamation claim. The court noted that the combination of the article’s text and the photograph could lead reasonable readers to conclude that Ashe was the performer who had tested positive for HIV. The court’s opinion highlighted the significance of context in media representations, stating, “A photograph, especially when coupled with text, can convey a powerful message: in this case, a potentially defamatory one”.
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Danni Ashe OnlyFans
Ashe does not have an OnlyFans account.
Danni Ashe’s net worth
There are no reports on Ashe’s net worth currently.
Danni Ashe family
Ashe married Bert Manzari, who at the time was the vice president of the Landmark Theatres movie chain.
Danni Ashe age
Ashe was born on January 16, 1968. She is 56 years old as of 2024.
Danni Ashe now
After selling her pioneering adult website, Danni’s Hard Drive, in 2004, Danni Ashe retired from the adult industry and has since focused on her work as a photographer.