Beach Volleyball Athletes Turn to OnlyFans for Financial Support
In Southern California, home to many elite female beach volleyball players, financial struggles are common as they balance side jobs and shared living arrangements just to get by.
To address this, a growing number of athletes are exploring platforms like OnlyFans.
Avery Poppinga, a professional beach volleyball player, estimates her annual expenses for competing—like flights, hotels, coaching, and equipment—total about $50,000, mostly coming out of her own pocket.
Poppinga, who graduated from Loyola Marymount University, jumped onto OnlyFans in 2024 following a suggestion from a fellow player who saw it as a way to earn some extra cash while working remotely.
In February 2025, she secured a sponsorship deal with OnlyFans through its OFTV streaming platform, which includes promotional efforts on social media, branded merchandise for tournaments, and content creation.
Although OnlyFans gained fame for adult content, it has expanded into the realm of sports sponsorship over the last two years. A spokesperson revealed that around 285 professional athletes from various niche sports are currently involved, including those from surfing, bobsledding, and more.
The platform aims to support athletes in sports that traditionally have limited funding opportunities.
This financial strain is particularly evident in beach volleyball. Despite its popularity during the Olympics, it rarely gets national TV coverage, which limits both exposure and sponsorship opportunities for players aiming to establish their careers.
It’s reported that USA Volleyball only extends scholarships to the top four teams, leaving many athletes to fend for themselves.
Poppinga finds her presence on OnlyFans a significant income source. Her free account has attracted more than 17,000 followers, largely through promotions on Instagram and OFTV.
On her VIP page, subscribers pay $9.97 monthly for access to exclusive content, yielding around $2,500 each month after fees, before additional purchases.
Fellow beach volleyball player Farin Fonoimoana noted that the economic challenges of the sport have led to exhausting routines for athletes. Even a successful season might net $20,000 to $30,000 in prize money, much of which goes to travel and tournament expenses.
Fonoimoana, who has navigated her 14-year career while raising her children as a single mother, mentioned she has had to juggle multiple jobs to make ends meet.
“I should have focused more on recovery and ensuring my body was ready,” Fonoimoana said, “but instead, I was just trying to cover rent and feed my kids.”
Despite having over 133,000 followers on Instagram, brand partnerships often pay disappointingly low—generally just a few hundred dollars, with some ranging between $1,000 and $2,500.
She, too, joined OnlyFans last year, creating content centered around fitness and bikini photos, describing herself as a “SFW worker,” meaning she doesn’t do nude content.
“We’re not wearing any less than before,” she explained. “It’s the same uniform.”
Fonoimoana also noted that inappropriate messages were common on social media long before she started using Instagram, saying, “At least now they’re paying for the privilege.”
The association of OnlyFans with adult content raises intricate questions. Some sports organizations have even prevented athletes from displaying the OnlyFans logo during competitions, complicating traditional sponsorship deals.
Yet for these athletes struggling financially in one of the priciest areas of the country, the additional income may outweigh the associated stigma.
“Our sport needs more exposure,” Poppinga remarked. “Regardless of how people perceive my representation, [OnlyFans] brings more attention to sports. I believe I’m contributing positively.”
