Meet the woman who hugs strangers for £70 an hour

Petra Milatova had always been a hugger – so much so that she even gave cuddles out instead of Christmas cards over the festive season.

So when the 42-year-old came across a video of a ‘cuddle session’ on Facebook, she wondered whether she had stumbled upon her dream job.

A cuddle session is a consensual, platonic and therapeutic experience where someone can receive physical contact from a trained professional cuddler.

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Sessions include a variety of activities ranging from holding hands, cuddling, gently stroking faces, playing with hair and eye gazing.

Eager to launch her cuddling career, Petra decided to research the role before signing up to a professional cuddling training course. The programme covered cuddling techniques, body language awareness and how to set boundaries with clients.

Once qualified, the 42-year-old set up a website and advertised her services on cuddle dating platforms – and it wasn’t long until she received her first booking.

“I had heard about professional cuddling before,” Petra told the Manchester Evening News. “I saw a video on Facebook and I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is my thing,’ I liked it straight away.”

The former healthcare assistant, who charges £70 an hour, always video calls her client ahead of their session so she can find out more about them.

This allows Petra to explain what the session will include and to also make sure they aren’t looking for “anything extra”.

“I always have a video call with the client explaining what the session will be about,” she said. “If they’re looking for something else, I will send them to an adult site. It’s warm, platonic and nurturing touch only.”

Petra,