Ashley Earle, formerly known as Ashley Dupré—the woman whose involvement in the 2008 Eliot Spitzer scandal led to the resignation of the New York governor—has shared insights into her past and current life in a recent essay and media appearances. Now a stepmother to social media influencer Alix Earle, Ashley is appearing alongside her stepdaughter in the Netflix reality series “Earle Meets World.”

In a candid essay for Elle magazine, Earle recounted leaving her New Jersey home at 17 and entering the escort business in New York City by the age of 19, where she earned up to $1,000 an hour. Reflecting on her choices, she described operating in “survival mode” as a young woman seeking financial independence. Earle’s life changed dramatically when Spitzer, then governor of New York, arranged a meeting with her at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. The subsequent FBI investigation brought her identity to public attention, with her name and image widely published in 2008.

Earle acknowledged the consequences of her past decisions but emphasized that while context is not absolution, she now “owns all of it.” She expressed that her earlier choices, though reckless and selfish at times, no longer define her entire story.

The essay also touched on her relationship with Thomas “TJ” Earle, whom she began dating in 2008 while she was still married. Ashley referred to their romance as a “complicated” start but described their bond as “deeply meaningful.” The couple married in 2013 and have three children together.

Earle also addressed the challenges in building relationships with TJ’s daughters, including Alix Earle. She revealed that her initial rapport with her stepchildren was strained, writing that Alix once tried to sabotage her shampoo with hair remover. Alix, speaking on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, recounted feeling overwhelmed and forced into an adult role at a young age, describing the early dynamic with Ashley as difficult.

Despite these early conflicts, the women have since reconciled. Ashley noted that after her stepdaughters, Alix and Ashtin, gained their own public followings and careers, she found herself reentering the public eye, describing the experience as “absurdly full circle.” She expressed pride in both young women’s achievements.

Concluding, Ashley Earle stated she is no longer ashamed of her younger self, though she would not repeat all of those past choices. She characterized the younger version of herself as “ambitious, reckless, complicated, and sometimes very wrong,” but emphasized her resilience and determination to move forward.