Only Fans: “I felt like it was the only way I could afford to live at university”

“Starting Only Fans meant I could at least feed myself.”

Although she seemed confident and strong, completely unfazed by the world, Jane’s* face screamed innocence and vulnerability. “Even though I love it, I wish I didn’t feel like I needed to start Only Fans, but I needed money quickly and I needed it now."

The 20-year-old slouched back on the sofa. She is just a regular student. Whilst she pulled her scratchy pink blanket over her lap to cover part of her stomach, she began to tell me about one of the toughest times in her life. In December 2021, Jane needed a miracle.

“I couldn’t afford to be at university any more”, she said throwing her hands in the air with frustration.

According to a study done by Save The Student, 3% of students rely on sex work as a form of income and 39% of those people do it by selling intimate photos, because their government loans aren’t enough to support them.

Due to her university course being extremely time-consuming, she was forced to quit her job, leaving her unable to buy food. With glassy eyes, she recalled, “I occasionally had to steal, because I couldn’t always afford to eat. My student loan didn’t even cover my rent”.

“I started my account because I was desperate. Stealing wasn’t something I wanted to resort to, and it’s not the kind of person I want to be” she explained. "Only Fans saved me financially, and I've enjoyed it since."

Luckily, Jane was offered a small amount of financial help from the university when she was once caught stealing. “Universities need to advertise how they can support students better”; “They don’t understand how embarrassing it is to ask for help."

As she spoke of a miserable time she tries to forget, Jane explained the saddening mindset her money struggles left her in. “I used to tell myself I didn’t need food”. She looked away in disbelief at what she continued to say, “I thought other students needed the money more than me, and I didn’t know how to ask for help – especially from my dad, he couldn’t afford to support me."

Most children are proud to tell their parents about their new job, but Jane feels the nature of her new career is far too disappointing to admit to her family. “They wonder how I make my money, and often make jokes about me selling my body in pictures online…when secretly, I am."

“I don’t feel the need to tell my dad, because I know it would upset him."

At the start of her Only Fans career, her focus was to make enough money to get herself through each day, but that concern soon changed. Jane no longer wakes up and worries about her bank account, but is now in fear for her future.

“I love my Only Fans job, it’s fun”, and “it fits in with my life,”, but her face began to drop. Like most students, Jane wants to follow her university course, but fears her side business could destroy her “dream career."

“Sex work is a career people look down on, so I feel like I’m having to choose between the two when I really don’t want to. I shouldn’t have to, I want to enjoy both, but I know nobody will hire me if they found out.”

Unlike Jane, who wants to continue her studies, 25-year-old Kaya Corbridge, told Leeds live she couldn’t afford to be at university and feed herself. After quitting to pursue Only Fans, she made £2.1 million in her first 5 years.

Although most people would assume Only Fans is as easy as posting provocative pictures online and messaging a few people, Jane wished society knew how physically and mentally taxing this industry can be.

“I have to trick myself into thinking I want to flirt with older men and sell content, even though I’m disgusted by them.” She confessed how her personal life has to take a back seat; “it’s basically an acting career, you’re someone else.”

The generalisation in sex work is what Jane describes: “You’re someone who’s horny all the time, loves sex and doesn’t care where they get it from, which isn’t true.” Sadly, many users like Jane, have to pretend.

Even though she struggles to separate herself from the character she plays, and knows her audience follows a completely different person from who she actually is, for Jane, it’s worth it. “Every job is hard, and if I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t do it.”

Although it would seem like straightforward income, the industry has huge struggles with scammers. Unfortunately, Jane was a victim of this.

“Their aim is to exploit women”, she said, in a worried tone.

Another huge concern is the whereabouts of her content. Due to screen recording, everyone on these websites has to be prepared for where their content might end up.

“It’s worrying that you don’t know what people will do with it…I have to hope it won’t ever get leaked”, she said concerned.

Only Fans' creators are often subject to judgment, which Jane hasn’t escaped. “I’m mostly judged by women, they say it’s dirty, and assume my social class”. Fortunately for herself, she manages to ignore the negative comments and focuses on the positive reactions, which she gains a lot of.

(Tik Tok comments)

Jane wants to challenge the stigma around the victimising of Only Fans users. "I don't want people to think I'm a victim to the job" she claimed, "because I love it and It's helped my confidence massively."

The young student is never off duty. Even when she’s at the pub socialising with her friends she’s on her phone working.

“I’m marketing myself 24/7”, “I look antisocial but in reality, I’m always working on my business”.

Although this would be extremely full on for most, she says it’s still less stressful than a conventional role: “A normal job would decrease my mental health, and I know the potential I can get to, and that potential can get you a lot of f*****g money."

*Jane* - Anonymous name used for safety.

To hear more on why students are turning to Only Fans to pay their bills, and how other young people around the UK feel about it, click the link below to hear Lucy Bevan report:

Follow Angle News on all our social platforms below:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AngleNews22

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anglenews22/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anglenews?lang=en