Kristy Althaus: From Beauty Pageant to Court Case
Kristy Althaus was once known as a young woman chasing her dreams in beauty pageants. She placed as a runner-up in the Miss Colorado Teen USA competition and seemed ready for a bright future. But her life changed in 2014 when an explicit video appeared online.
The pageant world quickly took away her title, and many people saw it as a scandal. Years later, however, the story turned out to be much bigger. The video was linked to Girls Do Porn (GDP), a company accused of lying to and forcing women into adult videos.
Now, Althaus is in the middle of a lawsuit against Aylo (formerly MindGeek), the company that owns Pornhub. She says the company helped spread the video and profited from it. Her case is part of a larger fight about online safety, consent, and corporate responsibility.
Pageant Years
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Competition: Miss Colorado Teen USA
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Placement: Runner-up
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Year: Some sources say 2012, others say 2013
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Miss Colorado Teen USA |
| Role | Runner-up |
| Years reported | 2012 or 2013 |
| Importance | Start of public career |
Her success in the pageant world could have opened doors for modeling or media jobs. But within a year, her crown was gone.
2014: The Scandal
In 2014, news outlets reported that Kristy Althaus had appeared in an adult video.
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Pageant organizers responded quickly and removed her title.
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Local and national media reported on it as a shocking fall from grace.
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At the time, it was seen as a personal mistake rather than exploitation.
Read also: Princess Kazer
Media Reports in 2014
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Business Standard/ANI: Confirmed title was revoked.
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Fox News (Entertainment): Later reported on a second video.
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943theX (local radio): One of the first to spread the story.
The reporting then focused on “rules” and “image,” not on what pressures she may have faced.
Girls Do Porn (GDP) Connection
Later, the story took a very different turn. The company behind the video, Girls Do Porn (GDP), was investigated and exposed for fraud and trafficking.
How GDP Operated
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Promised privacy and quick money to women.
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Claimed videos would only be shared with a small audience.
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In reality, videos were posted online and heavily promoted.
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Women were often threatened, lied to, or pressured.
By 2019, U.S. authorities indicted founder Michael Pratt and others. Pratt became one of the FBI’s Most Wanted until his arrest.
This showed that Kristy Althaus was not just in a “scandal” but may have been one of many victims of exploitation.
Read also: Neil Patrick Stewart
The 2023 Lawsuit Against Aylo (MindGeek)
In September 2023, Althaus filed a lawsuit against Aylo, the company that owns Pornhub.
What She Claims
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The video was uploaded without real consent.
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Pornhub hosted and profited from it.
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She suffered harassment and public shame for years.
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The company helped “aid and abet sex trafficking.”
Evidence in the Case
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Court filings show threatening text messages linked to the video’s producers.
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Complaint details years of emotional and reputational harm.
Aylo’s Position
Aylo has said:
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It cannot comment on ongoing lawsuits.
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It has taken steps to improve safety on Pornhub, including:
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Banning unverified uploads (since 2020).
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Reducing downloads and outside sharing.
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Still, critics argue these changes came too late for victims like Althaus.
Updates from the Court
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September 2023: Lawsuit filed.
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April 2024: Defendants asked the court to dismiss or reduce some claims.
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As of 2025: Case still moving forward.
Case Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2012/2013 | Runner-up, Miss Colorado Teen USA |
| Jan 2014 | Title revoked after explicit video surfaced |
| 2019 | GDP operators indicted |
| Sept 2023 | Lawsuit filed vs Aylo (MindGeek) |
| Apr 2024 | Defendants move to dismiss claims |
How Media Covered It
Different outlets reported on Althaus in different ways.
Detailed Coverage
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Fox News (2023): Shared complaint screenshots and FBI context.
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The Independent (UK): In-depth story with background and court details.
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404 Media: Looked at the lawsuit in the wider adult industry.
Shorter Reports
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NY Post: Quick summary of lawsuit.
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Daily Caller: Aggregated from other outlets.
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AOL: Reposted The Independent’s coverage.
Other Angles
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The Deep Dive: Focused on Aylo’s business risks.
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Reddit forums: Shared a claimed victim-impact statement.
Personal Impact on Kristy Althaus
From the court filings and reports, the impact on Althaus has been serious:
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Harassment from strangers online and offline.
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Loss of career and education opportunities.
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Mental and emotional stress from years of exposure.
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Ongoing damage to her reputation because the video still circulates.
Bigger Issues Raised
Kristy Althaus’s story points to three larger issues:
1. Consent in Adult Media
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Consent must be informed and free from lies or threats.
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If women are misled, can the videos ever be considered consensual?
2. Platform Responsibility
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Should companies be responsible for videos tied to trafficking?
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Section 230, which protects websites, is now being questioned in these cases.
3. Digital Permanence
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Once a video is online, it is almost impossible to fully remove.
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Victims often face lifelong stigma.
Summary Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2012/2013 | Pageant runner-up |
| 2014 | Video scandal, title removed |
| 2019 | GDP exposed, operators indicted |
| 2023 | Lawsuit filed vs Aylo |
| 2024–2025 | Legal motions ongoing |
Conclusion
Kristy Althaus’s journey is not just about a beauty queen losing her crown. It is about how exploitation can be hidden under the surface, how companies profit from it, and how survivors fight back.
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Then (2014): Media framed her as a pageant contestant caught in scandal.
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Now (2023–2025): She is seen more as a survivor seeking justice.
Her case raises questions about online platforms, trafficking, and the long-lasting harm of digital content. Whether she wins or not, her fight has already changed the way people think about pageants, consent, and corporate accountability in the internet age.
