Australian Arina Rodionova is the newest sports activities determine to hitch the OnlyFans platform, an grownup social community that publishes uncensored content material.
In August 2024, tennis participant Alexandre Muller introduced that he can be sponsored by OnlyFans. “I am not a millionaire, OnlyFans permits me to pay my coaches, to have my bodily coach a little bit extra usually within the event. My yr is deliberate in accordance with what I earn… OnlyFans is a social community like some other. I submit about tennis and my life. I do not submit something specific as individuals would count on, I simply speak about tennis. Everybody is aware of OnlyFans as an erotic themed web site, however that is not the case for me,” defined the Frenchman.
Mavs followers present loyalty to Doncic, protest towards horrible commerce
Regardless of all its glitz and glamour, skilled sport nonetheless doesn’t supply a viable monetary mannequin for a lot of athletes
Nick Kyrgios signed up for OnlyFans in 2023, whereas media-savvy former tennis gamers Ashley Harkleroad and Sofya Zhuk (“There can be no nudes, however…”) grew to become stars of the platform.
Fighter Paige VanZant, driver Renee Gracie, Olympic athlete Alysha Newman, fighter Pearl Gonzalez, soccer participant Madelene Wright, boxer Ebanie Bridges and basketball participant Liz Cambage are a few of the sports activities figures who’ve seen their fame and revenue multiply because of OnlyFans.
, Paige VanZant admitted.
Liz Cambage revealed she made extra money in every week on OnlyFans ($1.5 million) than in her total NBA profession.
Why is OnlyFans a “sensible enterprise” for sports activities stars?
Guide Mark Borkowski has analysed within the Every day Mail the the explanation why sports activities stars are in search of new funding on a platform like OnlyFans.
Skilled athletes from world wide are selecting to hitch OnlyFans to monetize their content material, enhance their social media presence and have interaction with followers
“Arina Rodionova leaping on the OnlyFans bandwagon is simply one other signal of the instances – a transparent reminder that skilled sport, for all its glitz and glamour, nonetheless doesn’t supply a viable monetary mannequin for a lot of athletes,” he says.
Borkowski argues that athletes’ resolution to leap to OnlyFans is “sensible enterprise”, because it permits them to straight handle a creator financial system platform the place they will appeal to their viewers straight and, extra importantly, receives a commission for it with out ready for a event or sponsor’s verify.
Some sponsors could also be hesitant, however the tradition is altering. The true scandal just isn’t that athletes are turning to Onlyfans, however that they’ve to take action as a primary selection
Concerning the reputational injury that taking part in OnlyFans may cause for some athletes, it’s price noting that Tim Stokely, the creator of the platform, initially conceived it as an area the place influencers might submit unique content material in alternate for a month-to-month subscription price.
OnlyFans grew to become a social community the place specific sexual content material was revealed, though in current instances it’s managing to do away with this stigma to return to its unique concept of being a platform for celebrities.
“Skilled athletes from world wide are selecting to hitch OnlyFans to monetise their content material, enhance their social media presence and have interaction with followers… For a lot of, funding a profession in sport could be troublesome, however OnlyFans helps them cowl their prices by giving them the instruments to succeed on and off the sector, courtroom or ring,” an OnlyFans spokesperson instructed Les Roopanarine.
“Followers need to get to know the true individuals behind their favourite sports activities stars and Onlyfans provides them that chance,” say OnlyFans.
The reputational threat for sports activities stars of publishing their content material on OnlyFans
Regardless of OnlyFans’ change in pattern, marketing consultant Mark Borkowski recognises that there’s nonetheless a reputational threat in athletes’ resolution to make the leap to the grownup platform: “There’s a threat, however it’s extra resulting from ingrained conservatism and double requirements than any fault on the a part of the athletes in search of a option to get forward. Cloaked in ‘respectability’, there may be all the time the danger of a backlash to their popularity, particularly for feminine athletes, who nonetheless must navigate the outdated morality clauses of a sporting world that claims to be progressive however stays deeply conservative.”
“Some sponsors could also be reluctant, however the tradition is altering quickly. The true scandal just isn’t that athletes are turning to Onlyfans, however that they’ve to take action as a primary selection,” he stated.