What makes a porn-star? How does a women gain the title porn-star?

I just got out of a two year relationship with a PS (don't ask who, but I met her here on TER)
and I've been to all the shows and conventions and everything in between, I've met just about anybody who is anybody in the BIZZ, so my question is what makes a PS?

Is it a girl who stars in a porn scene or a conract girl or one who has done at least 50, 100, 200 scenes/movies?

I ask because over this time that I was with my girl, I would meet girls who did 1,2 maybe 3 scenes and referred to as PS!

To me a PS is a women like Christy Canyon, Nina Hartley, Jeanna Fine, Vanessa Blue, Taylor Wane, Jenna Haze, Gina Lynn, etc...The list obvioulsy can go on. Each decade has it's PS and performers, but who are the PS's?

Just a curious as to how members distinguish or choose what a PS is?

I usually don't refer to myself as a Porn Star even though Ive been in the porn biz for 2 yrs and starred in over 100 scenes not to mention my own xxx pay site...
I like to call myself the hottest newbie!!

...It's way too subjective to reach a consensus here, but I'll keep an open mind and see what others have to say.

a "porn legend"

There are porn legends, porn milfs, porn girls, porn stars, porn starlets, porn newbies, alt-porn, you name it.

I want 'em all!

In my view, this board is for discussing just about any flavor.

I think the word "star" is highly overused not just in porn but in Hollyweird too.  Everyone appears to be a "star" despite how many productions they're in, the roles they've had, or anything else.  Here's a case in point from Hollyweird:  Anyone here recognize the name Barbara Windsor?  Would you say she's a star?  According to the IMDB, she's been in more than 60 movies/tv shows.  She's currently in the new Alice in Wonderland.  Yet, I'll bet very few people reading this recognized the name.

In porn, it seems that a woman does one scene for a website (possibly her own) and suddenly, she's calling herself a "pornstar".

So, for me to call someone truly a "pornstar":

 - She has to have been in enough movies for me to recognize the name without having to search on the Internet to find out who she is or what she looks like;

  - She should have been nominated for an AVN award or been in several AVN-nominated movies (this helps with the name recognition)

  - She should be someone who has *starred* in at least one film.  Being one of many actresses in scenes in multiple compilation tapes doesn't count.  

   - Being featured in magazines like Penthouse, Playboy, Hustler, etc. helps.  Note that I said "featured".  Appearing in doesn't count.  Appearing on the cover does.

Basically, being a "star" means to me name recognition, not just how many movies or magazines she's been in.

Just wanted to add face recognition is part of it too.  If I see a picture of her and recognize her immediately, she counts as a "star".

you are a tough one MrFrench but I am inclined to agree with you myself

I was curious to see wha people would say but your answer is exactly what I was thinking. You have to be recognized as a star, period.

like a previous post mentioned, if I recognize her, she's a porn star. Like Sara Jay!

hehe omg!!
you wouldn't imagine how often Sara Jay gets recognized...
I must admit I was always just a tad envious... but DAMN!!!
When I say where ever we went at least 1 group of guys would walked up that would be an understatement! lol

I luv her though... she taught me alot and I look up to her!!

One reverse definition would be when strip clubs are willing to pay you as a feature dancer:

For some girls, that is only after 75+ films, and even then most clubs would never pay them feature dancer rates.

For other girls -- say Stoya -- after five films club owners would have slit their wrists to book her....

The invisibile hand of the market place shows you who are touring stars on TheFloatingWorld