Erika Eleniak has found an unexpected new source of success, earning close to $300,000 in her first three months on OnlyFans. Based on that pace, she could bring in about $1 million during her first year on the platform, according to a report.
Eleniak played lifeguard Shauni McClain on “Baywatch” from 1989 to 1992, making her one of the original stars of the hit series.
At first, she thought she might dislike joining OnlyFans. Instead, she says, it has helped her reconnect with fans who have followed her career since the 1980s, including through “E.T.,” “Baywatch,” her Playboy appearances and “The Beverly Hillbillies.”
The experience has affected her more deeply than she expected. Eleniak says she feels appreciated and empowered, and that the response has brought a lot of happiness into her life. She is embracing this new phase with more confidence and enthusiasm for what comes next.
Her earnings are reportedly well above the $10,000 a week she was said to be making soon after launching her profile in August. The platform had more than 1,100 subscribers at the time of an earlier report.
Eleniak says she is especially grateful to longtime supporters who have stayed with her over the years. Reconnecting with them in a more personal way, she says, has reminded her how much their support has meant throughout her career.
OnlyFans lets creators charge subscribers directly for content. Its users include celebrities, athletes and adult performers, and company financial figures show that the service handles billions of dollars in transactions each year.
Eleniak initially joined because she thought it might be a fun way to connect with fans. She has also spoken about feeling self-conscious in a swimsuit while filming “Baywatch,” though she says her relationship with her body has changed over time.
She still remembers the swimsuit as an uncomfortable uniform for running and performing action scenes. But at 57, she says, she feels at ease in her body and likes where she is in life. That, she thinks, is what has changed.
She describes her posts as personal, playful and unfiltered, and says some fan requests have surprised her. Foot-related requests, in particular, turned out to be more popular than she expected. She finds them amusing, even if they can seem a little unusual.
So far, Eleniak says, the reaction to her joining the platform has been mostly welcoming. There are always people who criticize, she noted, but she tries not to pay attention to online trolls.
In her view, the stigma around OnlyFans is shifting. She sees it as a kind of modern fan club, giving creators a direct connection with their audience. Having more say over how her image and content are presented matters to her, particularly as a woman in entertainment.
Eleniak says feeling sexy has more to do with confidence than appearance. She was still figuring herself out in her twenties during “Baywatch,” she said, but now feels more secure and empowered. She can enjoy being flirtatious while deciding for herself what she shares.
She is also set to return to “Baywatch” in a guest role on Fox’s upcoming reboot, scheduled to premiere Jan. 6, 2027. Eleniak is excited about the project and hopes it continues beyond its first season, potentially giving her a larger role.
Looking back, she says the original series offered viewers around the world a kind of escape. For her, returning to the show would be more than a nostalgic trip back to the beach. This time, she says, she is doing it on her own terms.
