After joining OnlyFans last year, UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko is speaking up about her experience — and the financial freedom and independence it has given her. Unlike many other users (and former fighters and wrestlers) who have turned to the platform, Shevchenko has kept things classy and in character. Think less shock, more sharing.
Shevchenko wants to use the platform to share behind the scenes of her world, from training and travel to exclusive thoughts that fans can’t get on other social media platforms.
“Being on OF is an incredible journey of self-expression and empowerment!” Shevchenko wrote in the caption of her latest Instagram post.
“I can share my passions and build real connections with my fans,” the caption continued.
Shevchenko follows in the footsteps of other fighters like Paige VanZant and Jessica Andrade who have both had success on the subscription-based platform. VanZant has been very vocal about her experience, especially about how much more she makes from OnlyFans than her fights. She even called it one of the best career decisions.
But Shevchenko is approaching OnlyFans a bit differently, focusing on establishing a loyal fan following as opposed to making a quick buck. She’s even used it to get feedback on who she should fight next after defeating Manon Fiorot at UFC 315, asking followers to vote to help her decide. Creating content like this makes subscribers feel involved, like they are a part of the decision — and that can lead to them becoming even more avid fans (and maybe even opening up their wallet more).
And this is exactly what OnlyFans is hoping for as they woo more athletes to the platform, hoping to continue to blur the line between athlete, influencer, and entrepreneur for people like Shevchenko who is working hard to build her brand outside the cage. The platform even has a Sports section on OnlyFans, featuring sports like racing, training combat sports, and golf and racket sports. There are dozens of Olympians on the platform as well, including Canadian pole vaulter Alysha Newman, divers Timo Barthel and Diego Belleza Isaias, and New Zealand rower Robbie Manson.
Because athletes often have busy schedules that don’t accommodate a 9-5 schedule (and unless they’re a big name in their sport, don’t get the kind of compensation that can support their career), they often struggle to make ends meet — at least, they did until OnlyFans filled in that gap.
While OnlyFans seems like the perfect solution for athletes who want to create content about their lives, their training, and even their bodies for their fans who are willing to pay to support them, there is still some pushback from the respective sports organizations. Some are supportive of their athletes, while others will make the athlete choose between continuing in the sport or their new OnlyFans career.