Successful women in STEM tend to find themselves on a pedestal. They’re told they are role models, guiding the next generation of girls into the field. But Zara Darcy decided she didn’t want to follow the path that lay before her as she moved further into her PhD program. After two years, she’d found herself on a professorial track. Outside of her own studies, she spent her time overseeing graduate student work, offering feedback and securing funding instead of the more hands-on work she craved.

So she took matters into her own hands and created a STEM-based OnlyFans account. Well, two, technically. One offers free, academically focused lessons, while the other features explicit content that is “artistic and erotic with tasteful nudity” to Darcy.

But don’t think the STEM content is boring. Darcy wears more risque clothing as she teaches concepts like Leidenfrost effect and Schrödinger’s cat. She explained, “I cover various topics, from math and STEM to personal growth, but I like to present them in a way that’s both approachable and playful, mixing education with a little bit of spice.”

She actually created these accounts before deciding to drop out of her PhD program. Though the term “drop out” is a bit of a misnomer, as Darcy did receive her master’s degree before focusing on content creation. Her viral success from sharing content on OnlyFans, Instagram, and YouTube began to earn her far more than she would have as a PhD graduate. Within mere months, she was earning tens of thousands of dollars from her content.

And her following has only grown since her story went viral last fall. Not only has it made her even more money — she claims to have made over $40,000 in just 24 hours thanks to one viral video — it has also resonated with more people than she could’ve dreamed.

Darcy heard from many others who had also left academia due to varying challenges, like financial difficulties, trouble with the bureaucratic systems within universities, and the current concerns from the administration. She was relieved to finally clear the air about why she left.

“Many people assumed I completely abandoned STEM because of OnlyFans. However, I use my knowledge in ways that feel more meaningful to me — whether that’s making educational content with my own twist, researching topics that interest me without academic constraints or finding creative ways to blend STEM with erotica for my OnlyFans.”

As much as she loves teaching, she has no plans ot return to a traditional classroom. Instead, she wants to continue to offer online courses for free (subsidizing the cost through her erotic OnlyFans content).

She explains: “Knowledge should be accessible to everyone, no matter their background or financial situation. I want to contribute to a system where people can learn on their own terms, without the constraints of expensive tuition or the traditional academic structure that doesn’t always prioritize the student experience.”

And her platform allows her to do all that and more now.