ROSEMONT, Ill. — March 4, 2025 — The adult industry and its fans are buzzing about the return of the EXXXOTICA Fan Choice Awards (https://thefannys.com) sponsored by Chaturbate, on Saturday, April 12, as part of EXXXOTICA’s first show of the year. The event just got even bigger with the news that adult superstar Maitland Ward is signing on to co-host The Fannys alongside rising comedian, Usama Siddiquee.
Ward’s rise in adult entertainment has been nothing short of meteoric. Since the Vixen Media Group contract star transitioned from mainstream Hollywood, the former “Boy Meets World” actress has taken the industry by storm with a string of high-profile movies for Vixen and the release of her best-selling autobiography, “Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me From Hollywood” (Simon & Schuster). Maitland has taken home 25 major awards since entering the adult industry, so hosting one of the its biggest nights is a natural fit for one of its biggest stars.
The actress will also be meeting fans at EXXXOTICA for limited appearances and will take part in the ceremonial ribbon cutting on Friday night to officially open the expo’s 20th-anniversary Chicago event.
“We wanted to do something special in Chicago to celebrate our 20th anniversary, and adding Maitland as co-host of the Fanny Awards is the cherry on top,” said J. Handy, Executive Producer of 3XEvents and creator of EXXXOTICA. “We couldn’t be more excited to have her leading the way on such an amazing night.”
The Fannys return on Saturday, April 12, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, where the winners of the EXXXOTICA Fan Choice Awards, presented by Chaturbate, will be revealed in a live event. Maitland’s co-host will be Usama Siddiquee — a comedian known for his high-energy performances and appearances on “America’s Got Talent,” Comedy Central and a major streaming service.
For the EXXXOTICA Fan Choice Awards, the public can vote once per day in more than a dozen categories at TheFannys.com. The nomination round is currently underway, where the top 10 fan-written nominees in each category will advance to the final round. Winners will be announced live during a star-studded event featuring celebrity presenters, live performances and special guests. The entire process — from nominations to finalists to the eventual winners — is decided by the fans.
The Fannys will begin with a pink carpet pre-show, where the stars of adult entertainment will make their grand entrance before Ward and Siddiquee take center stage to kick off a night to remember.
Tickets for The Fannys are on sale now at TheFannys.com and exxxoticaexpo.com/tickets, including a limited number of VIP banquet tables and seats with drink service.
The return of The Fannys is one of several special events planned for EXXXOTICA Expo’s 20th-anniversary celebration, which kicks off in Chicago before heading to Miami, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.
EXXXOTICA Expo takes place April 11-13 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Tickets are available at exxxoticaexpo.com/tickets, including VIP passes that come with a custom VIP T-shirt and show bag, a commemorative poster and pin, exhibitor freebies and discounts. VIPs also get access to the exclusive VIP viewing area with a cash bar and preferred entry to nightly after-parties.
Tickets are also on sale for EXXXOTICA Expo events in Miami, June 27-29; New Jersey, October 24-26; and Washington, D.C., December 5-7.
Friday is Ladies Free Friday at EXXXOTICA Expo, where all women receive free general admission. Women are encouraged to register in advance at LadiesFreeFriday.com to skip the lines.
Limited sponsorships are available for The Fannys, as well as exhibit and sponsorship opportunities for all of EXXXOTICA Expo’s 20th-anniversary events. For more information or to request a sales kit, visit exxxoticaexpo.com/exhibit.
For more details on The Fannys, email info@3xevents.com.
For media inquiries, contact pr@3xevents.com.
Follow EXXXOTICA on X @EXXXOTICA and Instagram @3xexpo.
Follow Maitland Ward on X and Instagram @MaitlandWard.
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