OnlyFans models face public ire on a good day, but these models are actually playing it safe by keeping their career on a screen. Amber Rose recently took criticism for her OnlyFans career, and she was quick to defend her content creation work, calling it “100% safer” than strip clubs. Amber Rose is not shy about sharing her belief that digital platforms allow creators to have more control over their content, more potential for better income, and a greater sense of safety due to being protected by not being face-to-face with their client base. Is Amber Rose correct in her assessment? The numbers suggest that she is.

For readers who are unfamiliar with Amber Rose, she’s a Philadelphia-born celebrity who got her start as a model and dancer. She broke out in pop culture after high-profile relationships with both Kanye West and Wiz Khalifa. She later transitioned into acting, hosting, and other business ventures. Amber Rose is perhaps most well known for her “SlutWalk” activism, work that supports sexual freedom and bodily autonomy. Her long-standing advocacy for women owning the rights to their own image and money ties in seamlessly to her work on OnlyFans and informs her preference for OnlyFans over strip club performing.

Amber Rose has been crystal clear about why she prefers OnlyFans to working in a strip club. She feels safer, enjoys the flexible schedule, and is able to work exclusively on terms that suit her. According to Amber Rose, the biggest selling points for OnlyFans vs. strip clubs are:

  • No late-night cash drops, which reduce security risks for performers.
  • The ability to shoot privately in her own home.
  • Being able to pursue financial security without dealing with traditional industry constraints.

Above all else, Amber Rose prioritizes her role as a mother. Her children come first in her life, which is why she values safety and privacy far more than she used to.

Traditional adult jobs come with someone else’s schedule you have to adhere to, limitations on what you can do while you’re on the job, and a middleman who controls when and how much you get paid. Digital content creation allows creators to have full control over all of those things. Reports from the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) show that strip club workers face much higher risks for physical harassment, theft, and overall unsafe working conditions than workers in more “traditional” jobs. A 2023 study by the Free Speech Coalition found that over 63% of online adult creators reported feeling “safer and more in control” compared to their time performing in physical venues. Online safety isn’t perfect, but OnlyFans allows creators to set boundaries and limit interactions that make them feel unsafe — options that are often not available in in-person work.

The financial payoff of strip clubs versus OnlyFans does favor strip clubs on average. The average dancer in a strip club earns anywhere between $20,000–$60,000 annually, depending on tips, location, and whether or not they’re scheduled for shifts during peak times. OnlyFans creators make a median of $180 per month; however, top creators — like Amber Rose — earn six to seven figures annually. Amber Rose has reported earning far more on OnlyFans than she ever did dancing in a club. The financial overhead is also lower for online creators. They don’t have to pay house fees, give a cut of their tips to service staff and bouncers, or cover any physical venue costs.

Overall, Amber Rose’s opinion is backed by the data. OnlyFans does give creators autonomy over their time, content, and earnings. OnlyFans creators set their prices, schedule their own shoots, and manage all access to their time and image. If they don’t want to, they don’t have to work late nights. Because creators can safely work from home, they don’t have to subject themselves to unsafe environments, and there’s no middleman determining when and how much they get paid. Amber’s story and work preferences reflect a broader shift in how adult creators now have the option to prioritize safety while still pursuing financial independence. When it comes to the future of the digital creator economy, Amber Rose appears to be two steps ahead.