Kayden Kross eventually enrolled at California State University, Sacramento, majoring in psychology while also studying philosophy. To pay her way through school and earn money, she worked as a waitress, earning a meager wage that felt demoralizing and disempowering. It was during this time that a pivotal, life-altering event occurred. A bond had formed between Kross and a small pony at a local ranch where she worked as a trail guide. When the pony injured his leg, the ranch owners decided it was cheaper to send him to slaughter than to pay for his medical treatment. Devastated, Kross confided in a roommate, who gave her a controversial suggestion: become a stripper to earn the money fast. At 18, she took the advice, began working at Rick's Showgirls in Rancho Cordova, and made enough money in a single night to save the pony. More importantly, she discovered a newfound sense of financial and personal power, setting her on a new trajectory. After being noticed by an agent, she began modeling for men's magazines, eventually adopting the stage name Jenna Nikol before settling on the now-iconic Kayden Kross.
