There was a time when “content creator” meant vlogging, cooking videos, or maybe even makeup tutorials. But the digital world has evolved - and in Sri Lanka, a new kind of creator is quietly emerging: the OnlyFans creator.

More and more Sri Lankans, especially young women, are joining OnlyFans - a subscription-based platform that lets users charge fans for access to photos, videos, and private content. For some, it’s about sexual liberation. For others, it’s an economic move. But as the numbers grow, so do the questions.

What Is OnlyFans Anyway?

Think of it as Pornhub meets Patreon - but more personal. While sites like Pornhub are open to all and filled with studio-produced content, OnlyFans is private, direct, and creator-controlled. Users pay a monthly fee (usually between $5 to $25) to subscribe to someone’s page. In return, they get access to exclusive photos and videos - often explicit, sometimes not - and can even request one-on-one chats or custom content.

Now, technically, it’s not just about sex. The platform was designed to host any kind of exclusive content - from fitness coaching to cooking videos. But OnlyFans has become almost synonymous with adult content. That’s the niche that took off, and it’s what most people associate with the platform today.

What sets it apart is the sense of intimacy. Fans feel like they’re connecting with a real person, not watching a polished production. It’s that emotional edge - and the power to control what they share - that draws many creators in.

Sri Lankans Are Logging On

Though it’s not publicly discussed (because, well, Sri Lanka), there are Sri Lankan creators on OnlyFans. Some are based locally. Others live abroad. Either way, they’re building followings - quietly, discreetly, and sometimes under pseudonyms. A few even promote their work not-so-subtly on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter or Reddit, targeting international audiences.

So why now? Part of it is the globalisation of digital platforms - access is easier than ever. Part of it is economic - the chance to make serious money without leaving your room is tempting in a country battling inflation and rising living costs.

The Cultural Divide

Beneath the surface, the rise of Sri Lankan creators on OnlyFans signals something bigger -  a quiet rebellion against rigid cultural norms. In a country where conversations around sex, desire, and bodily autonomy are still largely taboo, the very act of monetising one's image becomes political. It's not just about money. It's about control.

For decades, respectability in Sri Lanka - especially for women - has been tied to modesty, silence, and staying out of the spotlight unless invited. OnlyFans flips that script. It offers visibility on one’s own terms. In this space, creators decide what to show, when to show it, and who gets to see. There’s no director, no casting agent, no unsolicited judgment (at least, not face to face). In many ways, it’s more agency than some women get in everyday life.

Still, the platform doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The cultural backlash is real. While Western media may frame OF as liberation, here, creators risk stigma, harassment, and family fallout. The tension is sharp: between tradition and modernity, between public shame and private gain, between being seen and being safe.

And yet - people are signing up. Quietly. Boldly. Anonymously. Because beyond the social noise, there’s a deeper question lingering: who gets to decide what’s moral, what’s acceptable, and who gets to profit off their own body?

Is It a Step Forward - or a Slippery Slope?

This is where it gets complicated.

On one hand, OnlyFans can be empowering. Creators have full autonomy over what they share, who sees it, and how much they charge. It’s a platform where women often earn more than men. In a world where female athletes still fight for equal pay and recognition, here, women rule the roost.

But it’s not all progressive power plays. The market is tilted. Male creators rarely get the same attention, because women are less likely to pay for this kind of content. And for every female creator making bank, there’s also the ugly side of the internet - harassment, leaks, and the constant flood of unsolicited messages.

From a societal point of view, the rise of OnlyFans in Sri Lanka brings up big questions. What does it say about how we view online intimacy and personal agency? Is it empowerment in a digital age, or just another way our bodies are being commodified for clicks? Does it offer freedom of expression - or does it blur into exploitation, just dressed up in Wi-Fi and ring lights?

Celebs Joining OnlyFans: Is the Stigma Fading?

As if things weren’t already changing fast enough in the digital world, now we have celebrities jumping on the OnlyFans bandwagon. Actors, musicians, and influencers are signing up to share exclusive content, and it’s starting to turn heads. Take Jessie Cave, the actress who played Lavender Brown in Harry Potter, for example. She recently revealed she’s starting an OnlyFans to help her “get out of debt” and “empower” herself. Then there’s Lily Allen, who casually announced in June 2024 that she’s “dipping her toes” into the OnlyFans scene, signaling a shift in how the platform is perceived.

But the celebrity rush doesn’t stop there. Denise Richards joined the platform, and singer and YouTube star Austin Mahone also made the leap. When big names like these decide to embrace OnlyFans, it does more than just raise eyebrows. It’s making the platform seem a lot more mainstream, stripping away some of the stigma and paving the way for more people - including younger audiences - to view it as a legitimate, even aspirational, option.

For many, OnlyFans was once synonymous with a certain kind of content that, let’s just say, wasn’t exactly dinner-table conversation. But with the influx of well-known faces, the platform’s image is starting to shift. Celebrities are bringing a new sense of legitimacy to OnlyFans, and suddenly, it’s not just a place for adult content creators. It’s a platform for exclusive fan interactions, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and even creative collaborations.

And here’s the thing: younger generations - especially those who’ve grown up in the social media age - tend to look up to celebrities and influencers as role models. So, when someone they admire jumps on OnlyFans, it’s bound to make the platform seem more acceptable. The stigma that once surrounded the app starts to fade, and young people start to view it as another avenue for self-expression and entrepreneurial success, rather than a controversial or taboo space.

It’s like when YouTube first exploded with creators sharing everything from vlogs to makeup tutorials. People didn’t take it seriously at first, but over time, it became a legitimate career path. Now, OnlyFans is getting its own makeover, and with celebs leading the way, it’s slowly transforming into something far more normalized.

But it’s also worth noting that not all celebs are getting into it for the same reasons. Some are embracing the platform as a way to control their own narrative, offering fans a direct connection without the filter of media. Others may see it as a way to diversify their income streams.

Regardless of the motivation, the bottom line is that the presence of celebrities is making OnlyFans feel a lot less taboo and a lot more like just another platform for creative freedom.

What Happens When It Becomes a Career Goal?

The bigger concern isn’t just about the people on the platform - it’s about those watching from the sidelines. Not too long ago, becoming a YouTuber was the dream; then came the wave of influencers. Now, OnlyFans has entered that same aspirational space. For young girls, teens, even recent school leavers, it’s starting to look like a legitimate career path. And why wouldn’t it? It promises independence, profit, and the kind of online validation that feels powerful - and fast.

But it also creates a skewed idea of success. In a country where job opportunities are limited and hard work doesn’t always pay off, OnlyFans can feel like the easy way out. That’s a conversation we need to have - without judgment, but with awareness.

Where Do We Go From Here?

OnlyFans is not just a website. It’s a mirror - reflecting what we value, what we’re willing to pay for, and how power, sex, and money interact in the digital age. In Sri Lanka, it’s still on the fringes, but it’s growing. And whether we like it or not, it’s forcing us to rethink everything  - from sexual norms to economic survival to digital freedom.

So is it good or bad? Maybe the better question is: what does its rise say about us?