Female Volleyball Player Says Joining OnlyFans 'Changed My Life' After Financial Stress Left Her Having Panic Attacks
Professional beach volleyball player Avery Poppinga says joining OnlyFans has 'changed my life' after helping her cover up to $50,000 (£37,300) in annual costs and easing the financial stress she believes contributed to panic attacks while competing overseas.
The American, who had long dreamed of an international beach volleyball career, says income from the subscription platform has become central to keeping her on tour and able to train and compete at a high level.
Financial Pressure Affecting Her Health
The 27-year-old athlete said earlier this year that the financial strain attached to professional beach volleyball made her question whether she could keep pursuing the sport she had dreamed of playing since she was a child.
Poppinga estimates that travel, accommodation, coaching, gym access and equipment cost her roughly $50,000 (£37,300) every year, with most expenses paid from her own pocket, according to a report by NewsNation.
She said worries about funding international travel and continuing on the world tour contributed to panic attacks while she was overseas.
The beach volleyball player said that financial support through OnlyFans substantially reduced that pressure and said that it 'changed my life, likely for the better'. This has allowed Poppinga to compete at more events, bring her coach to international tournaments and help cover expenses for her playing partner.
She also said that 2024 had been her most fulfilling period in the sport and that the support had helped her reach her best level of play so far.
OnlyFans Became Part of Her Volleyball Career
Poppinga initially joined OnlyFans in 2022 after another professional beach volleyball player recommended the platform while she was also working remotely. In February last year, she signed an official sponsorship agreement through OFTV, the company's safe-for-work streaming service.
The agreement involved video production, social media promotion and wearing branded merchandise during competitions.
The athlete said that much of her content centres on volleyball, while reports note that she also posts competition footage, swimsuit modelling and subscriber material, Front Office Sports reported. Poppinga later appeared in OFTV's 'Perfect Set', a volleyball competition featuring professional players and a $50,000 (£37,300) grand prize.
Her use of OnlyFans has already become part of the broader way she funds the travel and costs associated with her professional beach volleyball career.
The platform has increasingly sponsored athletes in sports where conventional funding can be limited. The company said that roughly 285 professional athletes were using the platform in 2023, including competitors in tennis, surfing, speed skating, bobsleigh and ultrarunning.
USA Volleyball, the national governing body for the sport, provides stipends only to its top four beach teams, which leaves other athletes responsible for substantial career expenses.
Panic Attacks Can Cause Sudden Symptoms
Poppinga also talked about experiencing panic attacks, but she is not known to have been diagnosed with panic disorder. The National Health Service (NHS) says that panic attacks can involve sudden and intense anxiety accompanied by symptoms including a racing heartbeat, dizziness, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath and nausea.
Panic attacks typically last between five and 20 minutes, although similar symptoms can also be associated with other health conditions.
If it happens when no medical professional is nearby, there are several steps that could help manage the immediate symptoms. The NHS recommends staying where you are if possible, breathing slowly and deeply, reminding yourself that the attack will pass while focusing on calm or relaxing thoughts.
Longer-term measures include regular exercise, adequate sleep, relaxation techniques and limiting caffeine and alcohol consumption. However, people who experience panic attacks should seek medical assistance because symptoms can resemble other health conditions.