She was forced to pay estimated taxes on her purported income. Lords was never arrested or charged with any crimes but was punished in other ways. The FBI questioned Lords and announced that because she was a minor she was not responsible and that all films that featured her must be destroyed.

The media had a field day with the tale of the troubled bad girl who tricked the porn world. In May 1986, the Traci Lords story broke. With her rebellious attitude and stunning looks she shot to stardom quickly in the x-rated world. Armed with a fake ID, no one questioned the stunning woman-child who signed on as a figure model which eventually led to adult films. Porn agent Jim South has confirmed in various interviews that it was Roger Hayes who brought the 15 year old to his office in Van Nuys, California in 1984. In Traci's memoir Underneath It All, she states that Roger groomed her for nude modeling and sex trafficked her at that time. Her mother eventually realized that Roger was not the man she had thought he was and ended the relationship but left Nora in Roger's care, claiming she was overwhelmed and couldn't provide for the teenager. Teenage Nora missed her father terribly and began to treat Roger as a father figure. It was then that her mother began a relationship with a man named Roger Hayes, and relocated to Southern California. Young Nora Louise Kuzma spent her early days in rural Steubenville, Ohio shuttled between her divorced parent's houses. Lords is an Ohio native born to Patricia and Louis Kuzma. In 2020, she made her stage debut as Gloria in the revival of Tom Eyen's cult classic Women Behind Bar which is now streaming on Broadway World. Lords is an award winning voice over artist and has a vintage inspired line of clothing. Her memoir Traci Lords UnderneathIt All ( HarperCollins) was a NY Times Bestseller and her pioneering techno album 1000 Fires topped the Billboard Dance Chart and was featured on both the Mortal Combat and Virtuosity soundtracks earning double platinum status.

She has appeared in dozens of films and television shows such as Roger Corman's cult classic Not Of This Earth, John Water's Crybaby, Marvel's Blade, Kevin Smith's Zack and Miri Make A Porno, to the award-winning Excision from Melrose Place, Roseanne, Will & Grace to series regular roles on NBC's Profiler and Syfy's First Wave. While her early notoriety brought her international fame, her determination, grit, and talent have garnered her respect in many areas of the entertainment industry. Kevin Smith called her an American Pop Icon, John Waters called her the ultimate bad girl.

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