

Madonna's publishers were apprehensive about the release and the book's commercial potential. The cover is made of aluminium, spiral bound and wrapped in a Mylar sheet. The book includes cameos by actress Isabella Rossellini, rappers Big Daddy Kane and Vanilla Ice, model Naomi Campbell, gay porn star Joey Stefano, actor Udo Kier, and socialite, Princess Tatiana von Fürstenberg. The photos were shot in early 1992 in New York City and Miami, in locations including hotels, burlesque theaters, and city streets. It was influenced by punk rock and fashion figures including Guy Bourdin, Helmut Newton and Robert Mapplethorpe. She wrote it as a character named "Mistress Dita", inspired by 1930s film actress Dita Parlo. Madonna developed Sex after Judith Regan of Simon & Schuster publishers suggested a book of erotic photographs. The book features adult content including softcore pornography and simulations of sexual acts including sadomasochism. It was edited by Glenn O'Brien and published by Warner Books, Maverick and Callaway. Sex is a 1992 coffee table book written by American entertainer Madonna, with photography by Steven Meisel Studio and Fabien Baron.
