Rising Star Spotlight: Jkab Ethan Dale Talks Going from TikTok to Porn, Asian Representation, Onset Mishaps, Fantasies, & Fears

Our celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month continues with one of the hottest and sweetest sensations out there right now, Jkab Ethan Dale (Joven Calloway)—an out, loud and proud Filipino-American who is blowing up (wink! wink!) the gay adult entertainment scene. With an infectious smile, charming personality and a pleasantly large funny bone, Jkab is sure to win the hearts of many a porn aficionado.

@jkabobs Something to sit on and think about #advice #muscle #ride #workout OC: @B-Rent ♬ original sound - B-Rent

We caught up with Jkab in Palm Springs during one of his shoots for Hot House (keep an eye out for that one!) and had a few questions for the rising star and TikTok sensation who previously worked as a musical theatre actor, a Sean Cody model, and an Andrew Christian Trophy Boy:

1. Where did the name "Jkab Ethan Dale" come from?
When I was younger, my friends used to call me "Javinskabobs" and then they started calling me "Jkabobs" and so it got shortened (they actually started calling me KABOBS!). Dale, the last part of my name, was the name that Sean Cody gave me when I first started and I was like "ugh, that's fine—Dale!". The name I always wanted as a pornstar  though was Ethan. Sooo, I put the name that I always wanted, the name I already had and the name I had as a kid together—it's a long name!

2. Tell us about your first porn shoot and how you got into the industry?
My first sex porn shoot actually came a decade after I did my very first solo (with Sean Cody). What's interesting is that I was also a theater performer, and after doing my very first solo scene,  the very first tour that I got fired me. When I got fired I took a break from it (porn) 'cause I figured there was such a bad stigma against it, which is still present today, but things have changed. During quarantine, I discovered TikTok and a lot of people started remembering me from that one solo scene with Sean Cody and I think it's because there were a very few Asian men represented back then. So I started OnlyFans then reached out to Sean Cody who said yes. The craziest part of it was that it was really scary for me as an Asian performer but the very first shoot I did was with an Asian director, an Asian assistant and an Asian co-star, Cody Seiya, so it made me feel like this moment was just right! I've always wanted more Asian representation in all facets of media and to see that in that moment was really special and I got to have a really great scene with Cody.

Copyright: Bfrench Photography

3. How would you describe your style as a Porn Star?
My style as a porn star I think is authentic. Even today I shot a scene and they were like, "Oh your facials are so good!" And I was like, "Yeah, it's real!" It's just how I am and I'm all over the place too—I like to be submissive, I like to be dominant, I like loving sex, I like all of those things! 'Cause what I get off of is pleasing the other person and that's really what my fetish is, if the other person likes what's happening it REALLY turns me on. So I think you can say my porn style is people pleasing!

4. What would be one of your most memorable experiences?
That first porn scene I was talking about earlier was really special for me because it was the first Asian-on-Asian scene in Sean Cody's history. It ended up getting nominated, it didn't win but it should've!, for Best Scene of the Year. I mean, to see two Asian faces represented as Scene of the Year? I mean, COME ON!

New Sean Cody Trailer!

My return to @Sean_Cody_Com is out now! Dale is back with the sexy @cody_seiya !

Check it out now!
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/fi7veAH9FB pic.twitter.com/rucBjZvWRU

— Jkab Ethan Dale (180k) (@JkabEthanDale) April 30, 2021

 5. What would be one of your most embarrassing moments?
I was doing a scene with the sweetest guy, Felix Fox, and we're completely oiled up in Albolene which is this really greasy stuff (think oil but twice as oily!) and they have me in this very difficult position; it's this front-facing riding position, and we're on this gorgeous set and we're on this box we're supposed to stay on top of but we keep slipping off! Then while I'm riding him I completely slip and fall, off the box and onto the floor and we're all just cracking up! It was really embarrassing but they were all really lovely and sweet about it!

6. What are some of the challenges you face, specifically as an Asian performer?
I think that Asian men for the history of porn, really, have been at the bottom of the totem pole and I think we've often not being seen as the desired or sexualized in all facets of media. I think we are taught what is attractive, and there was just no Asian representation when I was growing up—as far as there was no one chasing the Asian guy; no one was going after the Asian guy. So when I watched porn, Asian men weren't featured that much and what's interesting is that not only is this from other people but also Asians ourselves! I think that being an Asian performer people see you as an exception. I think one of the hardest things is that being told you're not enough but it's nice that things are slowly but surely changing

Image Credit: Bfrench Photography

7. Who are some of your porn crushes?
One of my crushes is Peter Lee but he doesn't do sex scenes (he a jerk, I'm joking), I think he's gorgeous but I just don't think that's ever going to happen. Another crush is actually Cade Maddox. I met him at the gym and said, "he's really hot!" and I was really fortunate to let that crush happen today and it lived up to all the expectations and he did say (I want this in quotes!) that I had "the tightest ass he's ever had" so I said I'm going to put that on my resume!

Just shot my first movie for @HotHouseXXX ! I can’t wait for you all to see it! Are you familiar with my scene partner? @CadeMaddoxXx pic.twitter.com/iM8ZN2bS90

— Jkab Ethan Dale (180k) (@JkabEthanDale) May 13, 2022

8. Tell us about one of your fantasies?
So, I think one of my deepest darkest fantasies (and I don't think I'm really ready for it) but is to like be in a gang bang and be the only bottom and have everyone take turns on me, but then I think that and after 3 or 4 guys I'm like, "am I gonna be okay?!" But in my mind, I think it would be so fun to have like 20 or 30 guys just come in there and drop loads in me but I'm like would it though? [FUCK YEAH, JKAB!] And teacher fantasies, and boss fantasies, and authoritative fantasies...

9. Tell us about one of your fears?
One of my fears is that it's all going to disappear, because I'm very frugal, the last year has felt like such a dream and I worked so hard in theater but I've never had the things come to me like they have since being in porn. Another big fear that I have, not related to porn, is getting old because I grew up in Care Homes (very typical of Filipinos), and the biggest thing I'm afraid of is losing my ability to remember; that's my biggest fear in life—not being able to remember all the joys, the trials and tribulations and the people in my life.

10. What is something interesting about you that your fans/followers wouldn't have known or guessed?
I was a musical theater actor and did my dream show which was really fun! And that's what I was doing right before COVID, before porn, before TikTok, and that all got taken away from me because of the Pandemic. Fun fact, I was also a "swing" in that show who understudies all of the ensemble, and in that cast we had such a large ensemble, so I played 18 roles. Most importantly for me is that I also met my boyfriend on a Broadway tour, and that's all the info you're getting from me there!

Copyright: Mark Henderson Photography

11. Any advice for other upcoming POC performers or those interested in porn?
The advice that I would give to all people of color, especially Asian gay men, that are entering porn is that we work together to be part of the majority. A lot of people have this mentality that we need to be the top minority to be accepted in the majority but instead if we work together, to not be seen as the minority and to be part of just the majority, it would be really important. So let's work together and lift each other up because, the more of us that are up here, it will make us all the more successful.

12. Leave us with a quote.
STOP LYING TO BE LOVED; because I think everyone, not just gay people, EVERYONE in our lives has someone that tells them they need to be some way. So we keep telling ourselves that we have to be that way to be loved or to be accepted by the people closest to us. But once we realize that if that means having to lie about ourselves, our truths, that love that we're reaching for isn't the love we want. You want to find the love that you can be truthful with, when you can be true to yourself and be true to whoever is around you and find the people who love you for the true version of yourself, which can change because we all evolve, but that allow you to evolve and change (as long as you're not hurting anyone) is the love that you find that's going to be the most fulfilling in your life.

Guess who’s going back to PV for Pride and my birthday again this year?! Who else is coming?@deanmichaelz pic.twitter.com/BYm8QhZx6V

— Jkab Ethan Dale (180k) (@JkabEthanDale) May 5, 2022

Copyright: Mark Henderson Photography

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