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Kristel Penn (she/they) received her Bachelor of Arts from George Washington University and holds a Marketing Certificate from Santa Monica College. She is currently enrolled at California Southern University in their MA in Psychology program and a marriage and family therapist trainee fulfilling her practicum hours in California.

Penn is the Marketing and Editorial Director at Grooby, the leading producer of trans erotica. With nearly ten years of experience, she has worked diligently as an advocate within her industry to promote visibility and empowerment through sex-positivity. In 2018, Penn enrolled at California Southern University in their MA in Psychology program and hopes to create more competent, sex-worker affirming mental health resources for the adult industry in the near future.

Her workshop on destigmatizing the adult industry and porn consumption, co-presented with licensed therapist Traci Medeiros (LMFT), was presented at the Contemporary Relationships Conference, Woodhull Sexual Freedom Summit, and as part of Kink.com's educational track. 

Grooby is also the creator of the Transgender Erotica Awards, which celebrates the accomplishments of the trans adult community. Held in Los Angeles, the TEAs have been expanded to include three days of events: a pre-party, fan convention, and awards ceremony. She is the Executive Producer of the TEAs, which includes securing sponsors, marketing and brand visibility, and running all three events. Visit TheTEAShow.com for more information. The show is now in its 13th year and is the only event of its kind.

In 2016, she helped create the non-profit organization TAIF (Trans Adult Industry Foundation). TAIF provides life-affirming support services and resources to trans people, with a specific focus on the needs of performers in the adult industry.

Penn is the 2017 XBIZ Industry Exec Award for Brand Ambassador of the Year for her work at Grooby. The company also won numerous awards at both XBIZ and AVN in 2017, including Trans Studio of the Year (XBIZ) and Trans Release of the Year for Real Fucking Girls (XBIZ,  AVN, and the TEAs). The marketing campaign she spearheaded for Real Fucking Girls was also nominated at AVN that same year. In 2018, she was nominated for the XBIZ Industry Exec Award for Marketing Executive of the Year.

Penn received nominations for the 2019 XBIZ Industry Exec Awards for Community Figure of the Year and WIA Woman of the Year. Grooby also received multiple XBIZ, AVN, and TEA nominations. In 2020, Penn received an XBIZ Industry Exec Award nomination for Community Figure of the Year. Grooby’s GroobyGirls.com also won “Best Trans Site of the Year” at the 2020 and 2023 XBIZ Awards held in Los Angeles, CA.

Most recently, Penn started Sad But Rad Club, a project to change the narrative of mental health. She is also the 2021 XBIZ Industry Exec “Community Figure of the Year” Award winner. In 2023, Penn received the XBIZ Honor Award nomination for ‘Marketing Exec of the Year’ for Ikigai Marketing.

She is a published author whose essay is included in Dan Savage's best-selling book, It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living. She is also featured in Dave Naz's book, Genderqueer and Other Gender Identities and appears in Naz's upcoming book, Identity: In & Beyond the Binary. 

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