In 2007, a television show that would cause serious buzz appeared on Showtime’s schedule: Secret Diary of a Call Girl. The show stars Billie Piper and is based on a series of books written by a woman under the name of Belle de Jour. And who is this Belle de Jour? A call girl hailing from London.

For years, avid readers of her books and blog have speculated as to her real identity. With the debut of Secret Diary of a Call Girl, that speculation got out of control.

Finally, two years after the television’s first episode played, Belle de Jour has come out of hiding, and her real name is Dr.

Brooke Magnanti. That’s right! The infamous call girl who unapologetically reveals the naughtiest, dirtiest, and most vulnerable stories of her career as a call girl is now a revered doctor. She is a research scientist with the Bristol Initiative for Research of Child Health. But why did she “come out”? Because of an ex-boyfriend who may or may not have been about to out the scientist.

How does Magnanti feel about revealing her true identity? In her words, as displayed on her blog, she writes, “It feels so much better on this side. Not to have to tell lies, hide things from the people I care about. To be able to defend what my experience of sex work is like to all the skeptics and doubters…It became important to acknowledge that aspect of my life and my personality to the world at large. I am a woman. I lived in London. I was a call girl.”

This chick receives, from me, a standing ovation.