Karen Danczuk:
“Charging for sexy photos is empowering”
She was dubbed the ‘Selfie Queen’ for posting provocative snaps while married to her ex-husband, Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk. But now, Karen Danczuk has followed in the footsteps of Holly Hagan and Chloe Khan to become the latest reality star to sell her X-rated pictures on subscription service Onlyfans. Here, Karen defends her decision to sign up to the controversial site…
When Karen Danczuk divorced her husband, former MP Simon, in 2015, she claimed that her ex’s jealously over the attention she gained from posting saucy snaps online was partly to blame. Now, Karen is capitalising on her photos through online subscription service Onlyfans, where she’s charging £15 a month for exclusive access to her racy pictures – and is reported to have already earned £10,000.
Speaking exclusively to Closer, Karen, 35, says, “I heard about Onlyfans after my Twitter followers told me to sign up. At first, I thought it was just a smutty sex site, but personal trainers, make-up artists and inspirational speakers use it, too.
CHATTING TO FANS
“I love spending time interacting with my fans, but financially, I couldn’t justify using up all those hours replying to everyone – now I can, and I get paid for it, too. I only signed up two weeks ago, but I’ve been overwhelmed by the response.”
Karen, 35, has previously spoken out about selfies helping her deal with the sexual abuse she suffered as a child. Her brother Michael was found guilty of eight rapes against three different victims, including his sister, in 2016.
She explains, “I’ve been through a lot in the past few years, and as a result, I put on a bit of weight and felt depressed. But recently, I’ve got back into my training, and I’ve been feeling great, so it’s a positive way to be able to share that with my fans.”
It has been reported that Karen charges up to £150 for steamy images on Onlyfans – including a picture of herself wearing a wet T-shirt.
The site offers influencers the chance to charge their fans for exclusive access to content, starting at £3.79 a month. But it has made headlines and received criticism for explicit pictures and videos posted by pornstars and sex workers. Some members of the public have labelled the site “sleazy” and added that it’s “pathetic” men would pay for such content. But others – such as celebrity users, including Holly Hagan and Chloe Khan – have argued that the site is empowering, as it allows women to choose how they present themselves online, while also getting paid for it.
POSITIVITY
And while Karen wouldn’t confirm how much money she’s made so far, she insists the service is no different from influencers getting paid on Instagram.
She says, “Asking fans to pay upfront is no different than a brand sending me some underwear and me being paid to post it on Instagram. People don’t have to sign up if they don’t want to.”
Karen adds it’s not all about photos, and recently hosted a Q&A where she discussed everything from Brexit to animal cruelty.
She says, “There were a few cheeky comments saying, ‘Show us your boobs,’ but I get that across all of my social media.”
And Karen, who is mum to Milton, 11, and Maurice, nine, says she has boundaries.
She adds, “I explained to my kids that I wouldn’t put up any pictures on this site that I wouldn’t post on my normal social media, so they were fine with it. I won’t do full-frontal nudity. I’ve got a few lingerie and bikini shoots lined up, and I’m really excited about that. But it’s no different from the images you’d find on Instagram.”
And Karen doesn’t see a problem if women choose to strip off completely. She says, “It’s empowering. I’ve always been very pro women taking ownership of their bodies. It’s not degrading or demoralising. No one is forcing women on to these platforms – it’s harmless fun.”
DANGERS
However, Closer’s psychological therapist Emma Kenny says that women need to be especially aware of the dangers involved in stripping off online. Emma says, “With celebrities making big money, it’s easy to see why ordinary women are signing up, too. But they’re likely to receive negative comments and have their photos shared elsewhere on the internet without their permission. “More worryingly, forming transactional relationships with strangers online puts women at risk of being stalked. It’s not a career choice I’d recommend.”
‘ I’m all for women taking ownership of their bodies’