Sophie Michelle is only 21, and yet she's already making over $77,000 a year. How you ask? By whispering on camera for her many thousands of YouTube subscribers. Okay, so it's a little more complicated than that. Sophie, a performing arts student who hails from Cheshire in England, is an ASMR artist. For those of you who've never heard the term before, ASMR refers to autonomous sensory meridian response. In other words, it's the art of making sounds and sensations designed to give people a tingly, relaxing feeling, which relieves anxiety and sends listeners to sleep.
Sophie's relaxing voice has made her a huge hit in the ASMR community. She first discovered ASMR back in 2015, after her younger brother James was diagnosed with a brain tumour. James has since made a full recovery, but his brush with cancer was extremely stressful for Sophie. Searching for videos to help her sleep, she stumbled upon ASMR, and decided to make her own. She decided to launch her own YouTube channel for ASMR videos, and she's been so successful that now she's been able to fund her university degree with the money she's made through ad revenue.
Commenting on her unusual method of earning money, Sophie stated: "I loved creating my channel because ASMR is something that can really help with anxiety and depression. ASMR is a tingly feeling that makes you feel a sense of peace, almost like relaxing pins and needles that gives you a truly numb sensation. It’s amazing that I’m able to help people with their depression and anxiety. My fans online are so lovely and constantly grateful for my videos."
She added: "A lot of people who watch me suffer from stress and panic attacks, so they always seem thankful that I continue posting. Even though I knew the impact ASMR had, I never expected my channel to become popular. I was only on 30,000 subscribers last Christmas and was close to giving up, because I wasn’t getting anywhere. But in the January after it completely blew up after one of my videos about hypnosis got 2.5 million views – I was so shocked that so many people loved it. Now my subscribers have grown to over 200,000 "
Although her videos are intended to be non-sexual, some people might perceive the breathy whispering of ASMR to be titillating or even erotic. Sophie denies that her videos are intended to be fetishistic, stating: "A very small percentage of people online may use this kind of video for sexual reasons, but I think those people may have a personal issue if that’s the case. It makes me uncomfortable to think that someone is using it for sexual purposes because that is never my intention."
"As an ASMR artist, I really want to help people to deal with stress and anxiety. And with celebrities like Cardi B speaking out about it, it helps ordinary people to be open about what helps them to relax and to discuss their mental health issues without being embarrassed. Watching ASMR isn’t something to be ashamed of if it helps you get to sleep or calms your anxiety."
It would seem that there is a fetish for just about everything, and now, thanks to the internet, websites like OnlyFans are allowing people to explore their wildest and weirdest fantasies with the help of sex workers.
This is a lucrative business, and 21-year-old Jenna Phillips discovered this first-hand when she signed up to the subscription site in the hope of earning a little extra cash. Now, Jenna makes over $10,000 a month!
The Austin, Texas, resident is a former optician with an unusual fetish: she likes to dress up and act like a puppy.
In an interview with the Mirror, she said: "I have always acted like a puppy, but not in a sexual way at first. I used to pretend I was a puppy when I was growing up.
"Looking back on it now, it's kind of always been there. I just didn't know there was a scene - I just thought it was my personality."
Phillips said that her life changed completely when two men told her that her fetish is part of a much larger subculture, and that's when she began to post puppy videos online too.
The 21-year-old began sharing her puppy videos to TikTok in March, and since then, she has amassed an impressive 15,100 followers, many of whom subscribe to her OnlyFans.
Phillips shows off her tail wagging skills in the video below:
In another interview with Vice, Phillips explained that she now makes $10,000 a month, and as a result, she has quit her job as an optician to pursue puppy play full time.
"It's insane," she told the outlet. "I never thought my weird dog kink would be looked at by a broad audience, or that so many people would like/care about it. It still blows my mind."
Phillips videoes on TikTok vary from footage of her eating dog food and wagging her tail to barking and playing fetch outside.
"When it comes to pet play, the majority of girls do kittens, foxes or rabbits, and the majority of puppies are men," she told the Mirror. "I thought about it for a long time when I first got into pet play. I feel like a dog," so that's exactly what she pretends to be (with the added bonus of a hefty salary).
A former teacher has revealed that she earns more money in a month as an OnlyFans content creator than she did in a year working in a school.
Brianna Coppage, 28, had been an educator at St Clair High School for five years but left her teaching career in the wake of a controversy where her OnlyFans content found its way to her employers.
Coppage disclosed her unexpected financial success following her career change, emphasizing that her online content was entirely unrelated to her previous profession as a teacher.
She started her OnlyFans account to supplement her income and help manage her student loans and educational expenses. She explained her motivation, telling FOX: "Teachers typically get further education because it moves us up on the salary schedule, so we can make more money if we have an advanced degree. It was definitely not completely financially motivated, but it was a big factor."
Previously, Coppage was earning a salary of $42,000 as a teacher in a state with one of the lowest teacher pay scales. However, her life took a significant turn when she amassed tens of thousands of subscribers on OnlyFans, allowing her to earn more in a month than she did in an entire year as an educator.
She claims that she has made over $1 million from OnlyFans.
She expressed: "Missouri is one of the lowest states in the nation for teacher pay. The district I was working for is also one of the lowest-paying districts in the state. I feel like times are tough. I have student loans. I have multiple degrees in education, and it would be helpful for extra money."
Since joining OnlyFans, Coppage has managed to pay off all her student loans and credit card debt. She remarked: "Being a teacher, I know I never would have been able to fully pay all of that off."
Coppage now makes more money on OnlyFans. Credit: Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto/Getty
Responding to critics who questioned why she didn't take a part-time job, Coppage clarified: "Teachers also take all of their work home. We don't get to stop working when we leave the school day. We don't get to grade all 130 students' papers during the day. It's just not possible when you're teaching, so we take that work home with us on the evenings and on the weekends. Getting a second job is really not possible."
Despite her financial success, Coppage expressed regret over the situation, noting that she had taken precautions to maintain her anonymity online. She said: "I know people are saying you taught high school; they were bound to find it at some point. Maybe. I was faceless. I did not use my real name."
The St. Clair R-XIII School District released a statement confirming that Coppage had voluntarily resigned from her teaching position after the school officials were informed of her OnlyFans account.
The statement, as per the Mirror, reads: "First, we wish to confirm that the employee has submitted an unsolicited, voluntary resignation, and has decided to move forward in a different direction. The resignation was accepted by the Board, and the district will obtain a qualified replacement. The educational process for our students will continue without interruption."
The statement also clarified that the district learned about the situation from an external source and that it took all necessary steps to protect the confidentiality of the matter.
Nevertheless, the issue gained media attention through third parties, which disappointed the school district. The district concluded by expressing its commitment to excellence and appreciation for the community's support.
A top OnlyFans earner has left her fans gobsmacked after she claimed that she is a virgin and devout Christian.
Making a lot of money on OnlyFans might seem easy to some, but in actual fact, there are very few people who make the headline-grabbing amounts well into the millions.
Creators such as Bonnie Blue, Lily Phillips, and Annie Knight have revealed the extreme X-rated stunts they have pulled to stand out from the crowd, as the competition for subscribers can mean creators have to go to even further lengths to stand out from the crowd.
However, Sophie Rain, who has made a massive $43million from the platform, has claimed that she is in fact a virgin, as well as a devout Christian.
The 20-year-old had shared a screenshot of her incredible earnings, which saw her cop some backlash online.
An account shared her post, captioning it: "Model Sophie Rain just revealed she made $43million this year alone on OnlyFans."
Sophie then clapped back on X (formerly known as Twitter), writing: "You can call me whatever you want… i will be laughing my way to the bank."
The creator, who is from Florida, addressed the rumors that had been flying around about her, and revealed she is in fact still a virgin.
Speaking to YouTuber Kowski, she claimed: "I’m a virgin. I’m a virgin to this day."
She revealed that the rumors had affected her job as a server, leading to her Christian manager firing her after her colleagues had told him she worked as a "p*rn star".
Sophie added: "I’m a Christian. I know it seems odd I'm doing OnlyFans… but I don’t do anything else with anyone on my OnlyFans. It’s just me."
Sophie's fame came about when people mistook another creator's video in a Spider-Man costume for being her, while doing an X-rated act.
She then played into the mistake to grow her own following, despite never having created that kind of adult content herself.
Sophie also revealed on X that a lot of her earnings - $4.7 million to be exact - had cone from one of her biggest subscribers, who goes by the name of 'Charley'.
She shared screenshots of how much they had paid her on the 11 months she'd been on the platform, as she told her followers: "big thank you to my top spender for being there since the beginning."
As far as a case of mistaken identity goes, a $43 million paycheck is not bad going in our book.
A medical student has revealed that she subsidizing her studies by making over $6,000 a month - or $70,000 a year - selling pictures of her feet to people online.
Known by her professional name Sweet Arches, the 28-year-old self-confessed foot fetishist - who also works in a hospital theatre - has issued a warning to others thinking they can make a quick buck selling pictures of their tootsies.
Sweet Arches stresses that the process is incredibly time-consuming and that she devotes six to 10 hours a day to her sideline business. She also emphasizes that "aesthetically pleasing feet" like her own are essential.
After amassing over 106,000 fans on Instagram, she also gets between 50 and 100 requests a day via her OnlyFans account from people asking her to do everything from lick her toes to crushing ants between them.
The med student, from Portland, Oregon, explained: "Some people like the soles of the feet, some like the toes, some like to see them in different positions.
"People like to watch me crush things, like raspberries, grapes, or cakes with my toes. I’ve actually had someone ask me to squish ants, but that’s a no-no for me. Anything that’s living, I won’t do that!
"Some fans like ‘self-foot worship,’ where I play with my feet on camera. Others ask me to suck, kiss or lick my toes, or ask for me to send them worn boots or shoes."
She added: "One client asked for a pair of my boots. A lot of people with a foot fetish like the stinky smell, but it’s super hard for me to get my feet to stink. The client was still happy though, even though they smelled like my coconut foot mask!
“After one month of doing this, I tripled my hospital income as a surgical assistant - which is $2,000 (£1,600) before tax. It’s insane.
"Having a foot fetish myself, I started doing it for fun a year ago, just to share pictures of my cute feet. I didn’t think I could make a living from it."
Since she was a child, Sweet Arches says she has been fascinated by her own and other people’s feet, recalling: "I have always had a foot fetish, enjoying pedicures and making sure my feet look good.
"Even when I was very young, I’d always compliment people on their feet or randomly give foot massages to my friends, whereas most people think feet are weird. They would call me gross.
"Then, about two years ago, a friend showed me that there was a whole community of others like me online, so I dived right in. I was so happy to find like-minded people.
"I set up my own page on Instagram in May 2019 and started posting pictures and videos every day. I had no idea what I was doing, but looked at other sites for inspiration, then a few bigger pages gave me a shout out, so my followers went up.
"Now I have 105,000 followers on Instagram and 25,000 on Twitter."
Six months later, Sweet Arches set up an OnlyFans account – a social media platform that allows 'Fans' to pay a subscription for exclusive content from 'Creators'. She says: "I direct everybody to my OnlyFans site, so they can request videos or pictures.
"I’m still on a learning curve with it all. Some girls will offer pornographic videos or pictures, but I do not do that.
"There’s all kinds of different stuff and you can make it your own."
As well as the monthly subscriptions, Sweet Arches also revealed that she recieves tips in the form of gifts from her fans, and recently enjoyed a day out at a spa.
"I now have almost 1,000 subscribers on Only Fans, and usually get 50 to 100 messages or requests a day, so it is a lot to get through - although I have a friend who used to be a porn star, who gets more than 1,000," she said.
"Mine are mostly to do with feet, but there are requests for other pictures.
"I never get fully naked. I do respond to some risqué requests, but I’m cautious.
"The strangest request was from someone asking me to run him over in my car! I said absolutely not. That’s definitely the craziest thing I’ve refused to do.
"Working in a hospital, I thought that would be quite counter-productive!
"Everybody is super respectful, though. Even if they are asking me for something and I tell them I’m not willing to do it, they are still really polite."
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Sweet Arches/PA Real Life]]
Sweet Arches added: "But I do get sent, shall we say, pictures of male anatomy. That is a hazard of the job!"
Sweet Arches also makes sure her fans are kept happy by ensuring that her feet are always in good condition. She said:
"I do my own pedicures and manicures twice a month. Often I will go for natural or nude nail colors, but I will also take requests from people.
"I love a foot mask, too, and have a double-sided pumice stone in the shower that I use every day.
"I think if someone takes care of their feet, the rest of their body will look good. Feet and hands are so overlooked, even though research shows that feet are as sensory as the body’s more intimate areas."
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Sweet Arches/PA Real Life]]
Sweet Arches admits that, since starting her OnlyFans site, she has also developed a hand fetish and says her work has helped her to feel empowered.
She said: "I feel in control of my body and I can say yes or no to requests. I’m so passionate about it and have so much respect for the foot fetish community."
She also says that her friends and family fully support her side business.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Sweet Arches/PA Real Life]]
However, Sweet Arches confessed that she does receive some negative comments:
"Most of the messages I get are really nice, but I will get the odd vomit emoji. The most negative thing I’ve heard is that I’m fat or a chubby girl – and that doesn’t bother me at all.
"I’m so thankful that I’ve been able to make an income from this and that I can pay for my studies."
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Sweet Arches/PA Real Life]]
She explained: "My ultimate goal is to be able to help my mum to retire. She is in remission from cancer and has been continuing to work as an auditor and quality line leader through her recovery. She is a powerhouse and I’d love to be able to help her."
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Sweet Arches/PA Real Life]]
But, with unemployment rising due to the pandemic, Sweet Arches is now warning others that think that selling pictures of their feet is a quick way to make money.
"It takes time and commitment to get to where I am now and you do have to have aesthetically pleasing feet, like I do," she said.
"I spend six to 10 hours a day doing this. It’s a full-time job. You can’t just start doing it and expect to make all this money.
"You really have to respect the foot fetish community, too. We all look out for each other as well, so we will know if you’re not genuine and if you’re just looking for a way to make a quick buck.
"While, the fact that I have a foot fetish myself has really helped me to understand why people enjoy it so much, which has probably helped to make me a success."
To follow Sweet Arches search @sweet.arches on Instagram and on Twitter @sweet_arches
A struggling mom has gone viral on social media this week, after uploading a video of herself crying over the fact that she is unable to afford the $1,000 insulin for her young son.
Per The Daily Mail, the video in question was filmed last month by North Carolina mom Katie Schieffer. Since originally recording the footage, it has since gone viral after being shared on both TikTok and Twitter.
In the emotional video, Katie sobs due to the financial strain her family is under and confesses that she cannot purchase the insulin her type 1 diabetic nine-year-old son needs.
Take a look at Katie's tearful video below:
A weeping Katie states:
"I've worked for, like, 17 years. I work all the time. I've been paying medical bills on my son for nine years since he was born, and he was just diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and has to have insulin every two hours.
"I just got his prescription. It was $1,000. I couldn't pay for it. I couldn't pay for it. I now have to go in and tell my nine-year-old son I couldn't pay for it.
"I work a full-time job. My husband works a full-time job. I work third shift. I go to school during the day. How you guys making it? Am I the only one struggling? [sic]"
Suffice it to say, Katie's post picked up plenty of attention. Her Twitter video has accrued over 1.6 million views, while the post on TikTok currently boasts over 537,000 views, 101,000 reactions, and more than 8,300 comments from other people who sympathized with her plight.
Credit: TikTok
For instance, one kindly TikTok user offered to help, writing: "I have a good [year's] supply of Humillin insulin I'll be glad to send you for free if it will help! it's 500 units a pen and three pens 8 boxes. I'll send it. [sic]"
Credit: TikTok
Another person commented: "girl we not making it... some are just better at hiding it. [sic]"
Credit: TikTok
A third person provided some helpful advice, writing: "Pfizer and Marek have income driven medications. Go to the website and get the paperwork give to the doctor and you can get medicine for free. [sic]"
Credit: TikTok
Someone else chimed in: "we're not making it. the economy was rigged against us from the beginning. hope you get the help you need. no one deserves to struggle this hard."
Credit: TikTok
Another person tweeted: "When you have to PAY for life saving medicine, horrendous, in norway we don't pay, we get it for free! What do your taxes go to? [sic]"
Credit: TikTok
Another outraged commenter wrote: "This is such a genuine display of emotions it makes my heart ache. Humankind is broken. I wish this is what they put on the news people need to hear."
Credit: TikTok
Finally, another person wrote: "This is why we need to stop fighting each other and seriously question the establishment."
However, thanks to the kindness of a number of strangers, who viewed the heartbreaking footage, Katie's story now has a happy ending after all.
Per The Mail, since her video went viral, countless people have offered Schieffer financial aid and donations are still pouring in.
Credit: TikTok
In a follow-up post, Katie wrote in the comments of her TikTok vid: "Thank you everybody for information to look into. He has been out of the ICU for a week and we are trying to figure it all out. He does have insulin. [sic]"