I started working as a dominatrix after my 9-5 job - then I learnt sex work runs in the family after I made an X-rated discovery at home

A normal 23-year-old would be mortified to find a raunchy video starring their own grandmother - but for dominatrix Melody Mars , it was a welcome discovery.

Melody, 23, who was born and raised in the Lower East Side of New York City , recently discovered that her now-70-year-old grandmother, Mima, used to punish men for pleasure in the 80s.

While helping her gran move house in October, Melody found her dust-covered dominatrix scrapbook - as well as some naughty VHS tapes.

But instead of going red in the face and pretending she hadn't seen the saucy pictures, Melody was over the moon to find out she had followed in her gran's footsteps.

After her nine to five job as a social media executive, the 23-year-old makes extra cash by working as a dominatrix.

Melody, who has worked in the sex industry for the past five years, said she was not at all surprised by her 'commanding' grandmother's racy past.

She said: 'Mima has always had a dominating, commanding, confident presence to her and she simply [will] not stand for anything she doesn't like.

'It wasn't surprising finding out that Mima had this dominant side to her.'

The New York native explained that her grandmother was not paid to be a dominatrix but that it was 'simply a lifestyle to her which feels even more incredible'.

She continued: 'My gran is pretty much my twin; we have the same attitude, same demeanour.'

Speaking of her grandmother's taste in men, Melody said: 'She loves a younger man.

'It was always so funny to me, she loves a man who she can take over and who will follow her every command – as she should.

'It's a lifestyle for her, so it's not something she will ever stop, it's simply who she is.

'Imagining the energy of the 50s and 60s and all the freedom, rebelling and fun she would have, and how it's an energy that she never let go of.'

But while her grandmother punished men for free, Melody is charging clients eyewatering amounts - up to £1,500 per hour.

Her customers pay to play out their wildest fantasies, which involve being commanded and ordered around.

The 23-year-old specialises in medical fetishes and piercing play as a dominatrix.

When she is not pleasuring her clients, Melody works full-time as a social media executive for Mintstars - a low-censorship content platform.

Melody said: 'Every day is a new day, a new experience, a new story.

'People who don't understand it [my work] can quickly call me abusive, controlling, a million other names – but it doesn't affect me.'

The young dominatrix said she had her mother and grandmother to thank for exposing her to the 'fabulous world' of the sex industry.

She explained: 'My grandmother had my mom at 16 and was technically married but they very quickly divorced – young love and what have you.'

'My mother is a dancer and I was raised surrounded by other sex workers, drag queens and the LGBTQIA+ community.

'I was exposed to a fabulous world that had no limits, everyone was free to explore their sexuality loudly and proudly, and it was beautiful to me.'

Melody added: 'My family supports me, they may not want to hear all of the details and stories that I have, but as long as I am safe and happy - they are too.

'I'm very lucky to have them in my life.'