Onlyfans To The Rescue: How La Athletes Are Making Ends Meet

  • By Miles
  • May 30, 2026, 1 p.m.

Surfing the Financial Waves with OnlyFans

In the sun-kissed land of Southern California, where elite beach volleyball players spike and dive under the Malibu sun, a new trend is emerging. To keep up with the high cost of living and the financial demands of their sport, many of these athletes are turning to OnlyFans as a side hustle. This pivot is helping them balance the books – and it's stirring up some buzz.

Take Avery Poppinga, for example. This Loyola Marymount University grad is no stranger to the grind, shelling out nearly $50,000 a year on her passion. The costs of flights, hotels, coaching, and gear leave these athletes strapped, and as Poppinga noted, "Whatever people think about me representing [OnlyFans], it’s drawing more attention to the sport. So I feel like I’m doing some good."

Avery Poppinga

Avery Poppinga

From Side Hustle to Lifeline

Poppinga is just one of the many athletes finding financial relief through her partnership with OnlyFans. The platform, once synonymous with adult content, has broadened its horizons, venturing into sports sponsorships and creating partnerships with approximately 285 athletes from diverse sports like surfing, speedskating, and cliff diving. By focusing on those in niche sports, OnlyFans provides a financial boost where traditional funding is sparse.

Another volleyball pro, Falyn Fonoimoana, feels the financial pinch too. Raised in Hermosa Beach and a veteran of the sport, she's often had to juggle multiple jobs to make ends meet. Last year, she also joined forces with OnlyFans. She emphasizes her platform as a safe space for sharing fitness content and workout clips – all while maintaining the same athletic wardrobe she's always worn.

Navigating the Balance

Yet, the association with OnlyFans doesn’t come without hurdles. Despite its financial benefits, some athletes face pushback from sports governing bodies reluctant to embrace the platform's controversial image. Nevertheless, for athletes like Fonoimoana, the pros can outweigh the cons. With over 133,000 Instagram followers, her collaboration with OnlyFans supplements her income, allowing her to focus more on her sport and less on her side hustles.

For these athletes, representing OnlyFans does more than just pay the bills. It's a way to highlight their sports and bring more eyes to their athletic endeavors, showing that hustle and passion can come together in unique, game-changing ways.

Miles
Author: Miles