Q+A: 2014 AVN Awards co-host Chanel Preston previews ‘Oscars of Porn’

Former Penthouse Pet Chanel Preston has made more than 200 adult films since entering the XXX-rated movie industry in 2010. A year later, she was voted New Starlet of the Year, and two years ago she presented the trophies at the 2012 AVN Awards.

Last year here at the Hard Rock Hotel, Chanel introduced the red carpet parade of pulchritude, and now this year she’s co-hosting the 31st annual porn awards alongside Samantha Saint.

In her world, it’s a giddy and rapid climb to the top for the girl who fled the cold of Alaska for the warmth of Hawaii before jumping into the adult-entertainment world.

Chanel and I chatted before she flew here this week for the 2014 AVN/Adult Entertainment Expo and prepping for Saturday’s awards marathon.

So the first question will obviously be the easiest one, which is are you looking forward to being an awards host? Is this the first time you’ve been a host of the show?

This is the first time, and I’m very excited! I really enjoy doing hosting work like interviewing people and being onstage. I can add this to a long list of experiences on my resume.

And then the second silly question is have you picked out yet what you’re wearing, and how many outfits are you wearing?

I haven’t picked everything out. I’m wearing three, but I’ve picked out only one at this point. I’m going to have to really get on it that week before Las Vegas. My red carpet dress is sleek, black and low cut, very simple, but very sexy.

They want the last one to be shorter and fun vs. elegant because it will be the one I wear out afterward to the party. The second one I’ll mostly be onstage with, so I want it to be sparkly and glittery.

In addition to hosting the show, have you been nominated for awards?

I am; I have nine nominations — Performer of the Year, Supporting Actress and the other ones I can’t tell you because you’d never be able print them! The Performer of the Year is an overall thing for all the movies I made the past 12 months, not for anything specific. The supporting actress is for my role of Laverne in the parody of “Laverne & Shirley.”

How long have you been in the adult-film business?

Almost 4 years as of the end of this month. I’m originally from Alaska. I was born and raised in Alaska, but a lot of people mistake me being from Hawaii because I lived there when I first got into the industry. It just sort of happened that you seek the warmth instead of the cold.

Were you a rebel as a kid?

Not really; I went through my stage as a teenager, for sure, but I wouldn’t really say overall I was a rebel. I was full on throwing myself into this business. I was a little nervous that first day, but I jumped right into the deep end. It’s not that there is really a way of working into it!

Despite 10 nominations, I didn’t win any awards last year, but I did host the red carpet. They were able to really see how I worked. I’d like to think maybe that was my test. I think generally they choose people who can speak well and represent themselves and the industry well.

It’s really an honor because there are some really amazing performers in our industry, but not all of them can really compose themselves up onstage in front of a big group of people or on national television.

What do you think you’ll bring to the show that’s different from what it’s been in the past? Your humor? Your constant wit?

I think it is my personality. When I’m in front of the camera, I tend to be very fun and lively and funny and witty, so I think that will really complement my co-host Samantha Saint. She’s very lively, as well, but also very composed; she’s a total beauty queen, so I think it will be a really nice dynamic.

I like to think we’ll make it a little sassier, more sparkling than it’s been in the past. I’m hoping that I have more freedom than maybe they’ve given some girls previously. I won’t know fully until I get to Las Vegas to start meeting about it, but I would love to add some pizzazz to it. We’ll see.

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