#ONLYFANS: UNLEASHING NEW REVENUE IN A CHALLENGING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

After our article “From El Dorado to Danger”, I wanted to interview the girls involved in this type of work in order to get their side of the story. I came upon a model on Instagram that I would like to introduce to our readers. She is Ukrainian and is currently living in Bulgaria. She agreed to meet me at my hotel lobby for the interview. As I walked up, she was there enjoying a nice glass of white wine. Many questions were running through my mind: why did she venture into this field of work? Is OnlyFans more than what it seems? Is the job pleasurable? How can we make it safer? Let’s open the door to this secret world.

What’s your name and how old are you?

My real name is Yulia but I go by my nickname Diva Viva. I’m 24 years old but 21 on my Instagram profile. It’s more attractive for sales!

Where are you from?

I’m from Kozak Ukraine but I’ve lived in Sofia for many years. I didn’t move due to the war, my previous boyfriend found work here and I moved with him.

What did you study?

I study at the Kiev Circus Academy because of my experiences as an actress and gymnast.

You are also a model. What was your first job and how old were you?

My first modeling shoot was for nude art. I was 16!

Did you get pushed into doing that or was it on your own?

Half and half. I had a friend that was a photographer. She suggested that I take nude pictures. I felt unsure and scared at first of the new experience, but I finally changed my mind. I loved the result and couldn’t believe It was actually me in the picture. I have to say, I was impressed and also proud of myself.

So this experience confirmed that you wanted to become a model?

Yes. I started searching for modeling agencies but unfortunately I realized I’m a bit too short to become a fashion model. This was my biggest disappointment, but I focused and learned how to become another type of model, body model, commercials, etc…

How did you start your path to becoming a professional model?

I searched for professional jobs and I then started to book modeling shoots. One of the first gig, I had to travel to Tenerife Spain to shoot with a famous photographer. My boyfriend managed my career and we worked on not falling into the free collaboration trap. Little by little, I only accepted paying jobs.

What safety advice can you give to young models when traveling to a photoshoot?

Before going on a shoot, the model must take the following precautions. For example; when I travel, I get all the photographer’s details (passport) for my boyfriend, and also where I will be located, etc…

You jumped right into Instagram?

Not really because I knew that it was going to be a lot of work. But I eventually understood that if I wanted to be famous, I had to publish my work on Instagram.

Were you an instant success?

Yes. I had 70,000 followers on my account but then it got hacked.

Hollywood Influence Mag advises our reader to always set up a two-factor authentication to protect your datas.

Hollywood Influence Mag

What kind of pictures receive more likes?

Bright and colorful pictures.

People say, in order to get more “likes” on social media you need to show more skin?

Yes, that’s true. But if the pictures are too sexy, then you will be moderated! But followers also like face’s (or fashion) pictures with attitude.

How do you prepare for your photo session?

It’s a very hard process… it takes me at least 3 hours! I do everything myself! I have my own little studio. I shoot with a professional camera, lights, and reflectors. I use the live feed on my phone and work to get the right framing.

When did you start thinking about OnlyFans / MyM?

Well, after a lot of experiences with photo shoots, I knew about Onlyfan’s platform. I wasn’t sure due to the amount of porn content on these types of platforms. I finally decided to jump in, with the idea of bringing my followers something new but done in a sexy and arty way.

Is your focus exclusively on OnlyFans, or do you want to extend your business?

I also had one project in Kiev with a stream house doing sports exercise and playing popular video games. Now in Bulgaria, I’m planning for hot tub streaming sessions in order to communicate with my followers in a sexy way. And a final project is with some bloggers from Turkey who want me and 9 other girls to play bikini football inside a pool.

Do you have any limits in your show? In other words, do you accept any offers?

I am not only interested in money but also by the exposure that it brings me. My followers expect me to be nude, so I have to offer something sexy.

How does it exactly work?

It’s a free registration. Then I load my sexy pictures. Finally I advertise my pictures on my different platforms such as Instagram, telling my followers that if they want more sexy pictures they need to add my private channel on OnlyFans. I rarely or never answer on Instagram, or very short, this will push people to communicate with me on my private channels. There, I am more communicative, and the followers can request for me to perform some acts. They pay me for that. I definitely make money from it but I don’t accept everything… I don’t like vulgar or porn contents and I always try to perform acts that are quality and in an artistic way.

Do you make a living with that?

Yes, it’s regular money. I start from little prices and go to bigger prices. Approximately, I can earn 1K euros or more per month.

Is it hard to gain more?

It’s not that hard… you should be extreme. Porn actors make a lot of money! I have my limits. I categorically refuse every porn proposal.

As exemple, Julia showed me a video, where she is licking an ice cream and showing her breasts. The video is done in a very professional way, apart from the action, it’s very classy. One thing that I also want to point out is that she hides half of her face.
Tell me more about this video?

It’s a paid order. The client prepaid $100 to $150 and gave me the script. So this is the base of the negotiations as they always want more… So I try to bring them to my universe, and then after I can sell that video to other followers. I’ll sell it cheaper.

Why did you hide your face? Does this platform offer any screenshot security?

No they don’t offer… But I do my security by hiding my face when it’s too sexy.

Do your family, friends, know about your OnlyFans business?

They only see my Instagram and they all like my model lifestyle.

Did you show them the Ice cream video?

No… (she starts to laugh). They only know about my Instagram.

Yes, but on your Instagram you put your OnlyFans link, so your family and friends could click on it to check what you are doing there.

Yes, I know. But it’s not a problem for me because what I do is beautiful. My free access pictures are not extreme.

If you have a boyfriend, do you let your followers know about it?

I prefer to hide it in order to let my followers fantasize that they could get me.

In France, one lady was famous because she sold the water from her bath… Would you go in that direction?

Yes, I already did such things. I am selling boxes of different kinds… sexy gifts. When I have an underwear photoshoot, my followers want to buy those… So I sell them to my followers. It can also be some kisses on paper, pictures, and many other stuff.

This platform might be dangerous for young people because they think we can make it easily by showing their body. So what advice would you give to the young generation?

They must know their boundaries. I often get messages from followers asking me for my advice… such as, how to make money without showing my private parts. My response to them is that they must offer quality content rather than vulgarity. In order for them to achieve this, they should control photoshop, light, reflector, so as to pick the right angle, clothes, background, make up, everything… I even enrolled myself in a makeup course! The most important thing is the light! I use a Panasonic professional camera. So not only does it make me beautiful but it’s also professional.

She showed me the procedure of setting up her session. She pretended to set up the light, then the camera in front. She takes a pose, controls it on her phone’s preview screen, and when everything is aligned, she presses the stylus button that is connected to the camera.

Nowadays, a lot of influencers are using filters in an extreme way… This fake perfection is creating a lot of pressure on the audience (and mainly the young one). What do you think about that?

I never change my face. I only change light and colors. If you photoshop yourself in an extreme way, people will be disappointed when they see you in a live stream, or in real life.

What do you like about yourself and what do you dislike?

I really like my hair… I also like the fact that I can make my own hours when it comes to work. I don’t speak English very well, but photographers are very happy because I can quickly give them what they need. Other than that, I don’t like my height, I’m 1m63-65. I wish I could be taller.

Have you had any plastic surgery?

I only did my breast. They were already big but I added a little bit more…

Nothing else?

No…

Lips?

Well, yes. Just a little corrections.

So what would you like to do in the future?

Working hard as an artist. I would love to live in Los Angeles. I want to get more commercial performance but also personal ones with rich clients that want personal content. But all of this is done in a discrete way. I want to develop my own websites where I can sell my personal pictures along with performances. I also enjoy designing my own clothes. Maybe for my future project is to create a brand. Whatever I decide to do, model, actress, I will make it with dedication and quality.

If you had one wish, what would your wish be? Yulia started a little tear but then smiled again.

I would like the war in Ukraine to stop. All of my family is living there. They are ok at the moment but we never know… That’s the only thing I wish for now!