Phryne, a hetaera, or courtesan, of Ancient Greece. She didn't take direct payment, but her beauty and wit made men throw themselves at her feet. She became famous for her trial for profaning a religious ceremony, where her defendant ripped open her robe to show her bosoms to the judge. The verdict: not guilty.

Veronica Franco was a 16th century prostitute. She quickly rose through the ranks to consort with some of the leading notables of her day and even had a brief liaison with Henry III, King of France. She defended herself with dignity before the Inquisition on charges of witchcraft and... won the trial.

Sally Salisbury (c.1692 – 1724), was the alias of Sarah Pridden, a famous prostitute in early 18th-century London. Known for her temper and instability, she was popular among the aristocracy, until she stabbed a customer in the chest over opera tickets. Since the guy lived, she was fined 100 pounds and sentenced to a year in prison, where she died of syphilis after months.

Lulu White was a 19th century prostitute and entrepreneur in New Orleans, subject to one of New Orleans' first legal test cases in making a vice district ordinance, for mandatory residential segregation based on gender rather than race. She was of mixed race, known for many failed business ventures, and her very long criminal record. Boston's jazz supper club Lulu White's was named in her honor.

Sada Abe, born in 1905, started her career as a geisha, but then took up residence in the brothels of Tokyo, becoming a regular hooker. She had the reputation of a crazy psychopath, which drawn men that liked kinky stuff to her. Abe murdered and mutilated her lover, out of jealousy - she strangled him and cut of his private parts. When she was arrested, the police found her lover's genitalia... in her purse. She requested death penalty, but only received 5 years of prison.

Catherine Walters, born in 1839, became one of the great fashion icons of Victorian London, so much so that crowds would gather to watch her ride her horse through Hyde Park. Her clients included the future King Edward VII and Napoleon III. She retired as a wealthy and well-respected woman.

Margaretha Geertruida "Margreet" MacLeod (1876 – 1917), better known by the stage name Mata Hari, was a Frisian exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy and executed by firing squad in France under charges of espionage for Germany during World War I.

Ching Shih (1775–1844) was a prostitute turned pirate captain in Qing China who terrorized the South China Sea in the early 19th century. She was a Cantonese prostitute when pirates invaded the brothel she worked in. Cheng I, a notorious pirate abducted and then married her. She not only participated fully in her husband's piracy, she took over his legacy. She commanded over 300 junks manned by 20,000-40,000 pirates.