OnlyFans adapts to its own schedule. “It all starts with jobs like waiting tables, as happens in many stories,” explains Berg, pointing out that sex work cannot be separated from broader economic forces.
New TV series bet on characters with more control. Old representations used to show the heroines as victims waiting to be rescued. And doesn't wrestling involve building a character, just like in OnlyFans?
OnlyFans and the gig economy
According to Heather Berg, a professor of labor and gender studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, OnlyFans is part of the gig economy.
Margo decides to have her baby — abortion is briefly considered — but soon faces financial pressure. The slogan “sex work is work” has gained momentum, and even in New York, initiatives to decriminalize parts of this activity are being discussed.
Creativity, money, and control
For Margo, OnlyFans becomes a way to regain control of her life. Margo grew up with a single mother, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, a former Hooters waitress, and an absent father, played by Nick Offerman, a wrestling star.
Both the book and the series emphasize parallels: isn't working at Hooters a more socially acceptable way of showing your body? And anyone over 18 can sign up.
A different approach from series like 'Euphoria'
When pop culture addresses online sex work, there is usually stigma or judgment. In the series 'Euphoria', Barbie Ferreira's character tries to be a cam girl, but the experience becomes unsettling when she encounters a threatening client.
The reclusive millionaire was part of the story of a company behind a lifestyle that is told in a new Apple TV series. Hollywood loves stories about sex workers. Director Sean Baker worked with real strippers for 'Anora'.
(The baby's father, a married professor who took advantage of her, doesn't want to take any responsibility).
Based on the 2024 novel of the same name by Rufi Thorpe, the series captures both the rawness and the joy of the OnlyFans universe, making this world feel close without being too sanitized.
This is where the series 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' comes in.
When does 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' premiere and what is it about?
The series premieres on April 15 on Apple TV. Elle Fanning, nominated for an Oscar for 2026 for 'Sentimental Value', plays the lead character: a young woman who drops out of college and becomes a mother, turning to OnlyFans to cover her growing expenses.
In 'Anora', played by Mikey Madison, the protagonist embraces a fantasy that ultimately falls apart. The series P-Valley also offers complex portraits of dancers, moving away from stereotypes.
Destigmatizing sex work
It's all part of an effort to reduce stigma. Although the platform takes 20% of the earnings, it remains an alternative for many. Essentially, Margo's story could be that of a young woman working at McDonald's… but that wouldn't be as interesting.
Unlike many Hollywood stories, this one doesn't present Margo as someone 'different'. She's just an ordinary girl. Trying to get by. Not only does she earn money, but she also exploits her writing talent: for example, she charges for describing male body parts by comparing them to Pokémon. Later, she collaborates with other creators to produce creative and humorous content to attract an audience from TikTok.
For Clara Kundin, a former OnlyFans model and now a theater professor, money isn't the only motivation: “There are many nuances in how the platform is used.”
A new normality
Valued at up to $8 billion, OnlyFans has helped demystify this economy, allowing ordinary people to monetize adult content. “I'll do anything, I'd even dig graves,” the protagonist expresses when faced with difficulties finding a job as a single mother.
Although it also has some playful touches — like when Margo disguises herself as a green alien to attract an audience — it treats OnlyFans as a regular job, with its risks, ups and downs, and moments of celebration. This reflects an improvement in how Hollywood portrays this sector, and speaks to a moment when sex work is more diverse and accessible.
Much of the content on OnlyFans is related to porn, but it's not exactly pornography: some people just sell photos of feet. In 'Pretty Woman', Julia Roberts' character was saved by the millionaire played by Richard Gere. Today, filmmakers are moving towards characters with more control over their lives.
From Shirley MacLaine dancing in Bob Fosse's 'Sweet Charity' in 1969, to the enduring appeal of 'Pretty Woman', to the triumph of 'Anora' last year, the industry has been fascinated for decades by how women sell their bodies. But sex work has evolved in the internet age, and film and television have been slow to reflect that change. “I need to make money.”
P-Valley, in turn, employed only female directors to maintain a more authentic perspective. Although strip clubs and OnlyFans are legal, these representations reflect a cultural shift. Leonid Radvinsky, the owner of OnlyFans, died at 43 after battling cancer. In the upcoming third season, premiering on April 12, Sydney Sweeney's character turns to OnlyFans-style content, which upsets her fiancé, played by Jacob Elordi. Meanwhile, in the financial drama 'Industry', the character Sweetpea Golightly faces shame when her colleagues reveal her OnlyFans account. Created by producer David E. Kelley ('Big Little Lies', 'Ally McBeal'), the series is more interested in the similarities between OnlyFans and other jobs.
