While they may not be mainstream topics of conversation or household names just yet, subscription websites like OnlyFans.com are becoming more and more familiar to LGBTQ communities throughout the world. As early as the internet existed, the monetization of sex work online has proliferated, from early porn download sites to more contemporary video sharing and modern webcam services. Selling subscription services that allow users to view videos or the watch live webcam feeds of professional or amateur sex workers has indeed flourished online for years already. So while OnlyFans and similar websites are not particularly new in concept, they perhaps offer a more user friendly and trendy vehicle for a particular type of sex work, allowing a wider group of people to use the site as content creators and consumers. Here in the US, gay men and trans women seem to be driving the growth of these apps as the landscape of sex work is changing and cultural attitudes within queer communities are shifting and evolving. In particular, OnlyFans and sites like it appear to be emerging as a path for LGBTQ sex workers of color to potentially completely revolutionize not only the nature of their sex work but also to reap unprecedented financial rewards.
Why did you decide to create an OnlyFans & Just For Fans account?
I created Onlyfans back in 2014 when it first started becoming popular. At that time, I wasn’t in the porn industry just yet, but I was in the modeling industry where I stepped into erotic nude modeling. Even though, I’ve had the account for so long, I really hadn’t taken it seriously til the beginning of 2019.
Were you doing any other type of sex work before (escorting, porn, cam, etc)?
Porn and escorting all came a couple years later.
With regard to sex work, do you feel that using OnlyFans offers you more personal safety than relying on escorting or having to meet clients in person?
I guess it does do that for a lot of people who are not genuinely comfortable in the escort business. It does take a particularly unique type of person who can be in the escort business without any complications and be good at the job. For me, it just added another platform and business to run which added another source of income.
How do you market & promote your account?
Mainly twitter and Instagram but also Pornhub
How frequent do you post?
I post sporadically thru-out the month, which gets me in trouble sometimes, so I do try my best to not let a week go by without a post. If I ever do get too busy in other avenues in my life to be consistent on posting, I do make it up to my subscribers by dropping 4-6 full sex videos in one weekend.
How has having your OnlyFans account changed your financial situation?
Honestly, it hasn’t changed mine too much as I’m consistently working and have many sources of income. Setting up, Creating, recording, editing, and promoting content does take up a lot of time for me, which in-turn pulls me away from other projects. I am making more income of course, but most of the time I’m putting that money back into the business to make quality content.
Do you feel pressure to offer certain types of content to keep your subscribers interested?
Being in the porn and escorting industries have definitely taught me that you cannot satisfy everyone. I do try and take suggestions and work it into the content I creating if it blends well together, but I always pretty much stay true to myself and what I want to produce.
Do you think an OnlyFans account is more worth it/better than a more traditional career in pornography with a studio?
It really depends on your outreach. Working with a studio does give you exposure. I would definitely suggest applying to one, if you are serious about the industry. Otherwise recording with pornstars when you are starting out always jumps your exposure as well. How much work you put into your content, will determine the outcome, for the most part.
Do you see yourself continuing to use OnlyFans for the foreseeable future or is it something more for the short term?
I will more then likely continue with my onlyfans account and my other exclusive content accounts until I retire from the porn industry.
