In the Lifetime movie, Gristina starts her career in the escort business by working as a receptionist at her cousin's massage parlor. She eventually learns the business inside and out and becomes a madam herself before things go awry and she's exposed for her dealings.

In real life, prosecutors accused Gristina of charging $2,000 per hour for her most high-profile clients, and she was expected to give up some of the names of said clients.

Gristina does have kids in real life, but she has four instead of two, like in the movie, and while the Lifetime character version of her is married twice, in real life Gristina has been married five times.

But she did really learn about the escort business while working at her cousin's massage parlor, like her counterpart on TV, and she embraced the career and lifestyle as a way to provide for her kids.

Although Gristina is out of the business now, it was definitely a wild ride from start to finish.