Onlyfans is a full-time gig
THE fantasy of a “quick buck” could be leading aspiring X-rated content creators into dangerous territory, according to one of the Gold Coast’s top earners on Onlyfans.
The 21-year-old former childcare worker, who wants to be known only as Aimee, said the perception of easy money didn’t take into account the toll the profession could take on mental health.
Aimee, who operates under the handle @aimeeinghigher, said she had to quit her full-time job before she started earning up to $20,000 a month.
“I think the fantasy of it is scary because there are lots of impressionable young woman who don’t think about everything that comes with it,” she said.
“It can affect your mental health. “I grew up a Christian and my family’s reaction was not good.
“I was the shy girl growing up and I think everyone was shocked.”
According to Onlyfans, if a creator has 5000 followers and a $14.99 monthly subscription they could earn between $749-3747 per month.
This figure does not include the income from tips and paid messages, which build with a following.
Aimee started her Onlyfans account in February 2020 as a “side hustle” while she worked full-time in childcare. She describes Onlyfans as if it was Instagram, but with less clothing.
“I had no followers, no Instagram and no Tiktok, so I started from scratch,” she said.
“It wasn’t a consistent income while I was working in childcare.”
Aimee said after six months of trying to juggle both jobs she finished her diploma in child care and decided to focus on Onlyfans.
“I wanted to see if I could give it a crack and the results just amplified,” she said.
“I went from earning $4000 a month to $20,000 a month with Onlyfans.
“It was purely building up my social media and self-promoting and that in itself is a big f***ing thing.”
Sitting as the top 0.33 per cent of all creators, Aimee charges $14.14 a month and has 1900 followers, but she says it can fluctuate.
“The amount of effort and time I put in is very reflective of the amount I earn that month,” she said.
“If I didn’t do anything, I would earn nothing.”
Onlyfans was founded in 2016 and peaked during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The site has over 130 million users and more than 2 million creators.
The minimum subscription price
for the site can range from $4.99 to $49.99 per month but creators can also advertise paid private messages or tips starting from $5.
Aimee said she spoke to people who had been in the business before she started so she could get an understanding of what it was like.
“I really love my work and will encourage anyone who decides to do it if they have truly thought about it,” Aimee said.
She said despite some of the negatives she was proud the perception of sex workers was evolving.
“I am so proud of sex workers and I am so grateful I found this platform,” Aimee said.
“My aim is to provide a realistic representation behind the glamour that social media so effortlessly portrays.
“Just like any job, there are pros and cons.”