Chicagoans is a first-person account from off the beaten track, as told to Anne Ford. This week’s Chicagoan is Shawn Coleman, professional cuddler. “A professional cuddler is someone who gets paid by ...

Gina Maray is a pet portrait/energy artist, Reiki practitioner and a single mom living in Kewaskum, a small town near West Bend. She’s also a professional cuddler. For $100/hour, Maray brings clients ...

In the search for new and exciting ways to make money, a unique side hustle is gaining traction in the US: professional cuddling. And it's exactly what it sounds like. A client pays a certified ...

You cuddle your dog. You cuddle your pillow. You cuddle your children and your significant other. But some people cuddle for a living and can make as much as $100 an hour. Professional cuddling is ...

Indigo Dawn, a professional cuddler based in Arlington, knows better than anyone that few things are more soothing than a platonic, unselfish hug. We last spoke to Indigo in 2019, well before the ...

Even before the pandemic took hold in 2020, Americans drifted away from their social circles, dedicating more and more time to solitary activities. This shift has deepened feelings of social isolation ...

In a world devoid of physical contact, self-professed huggers are dreaming about the days of warm embraces, and wondering what will happen to hugs post-pandemic. Will people immediately run back into ...

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If you're someone who's always in the mood for a good snuggle, you may want to think about making a career out of it. Not only is professional cuddling a real job, but it may be more lucrative than ...

Samantha Hess isn't letting a pandemic stop her from getting close to her clients. As a professional cuddler, physical contact is a significant part of her business. It's not the entire business, she ...

Meet the 'professional cuddler' whose clients are queuing up to pay 75 British pounds—about $88—for a hug that lasts an hour. Trevor Hooton, 30, who goes by 'Treasure' set up a business several months ...

Barbara Jones is a professional baby cuddler. The 84-year-old makes her way to Golisano Children’s Hospital every Thursday to take care of some of the hospital’s smallest and sickest babies as an ...