Rewind time 20 years and most soon to be stars found their fame the old fashioned way... a bus ticket to porn valley and that make or break audition for a chance in front of the camera. It wasn't easy, took a lot of courage and the vast majority of up and comers did not make it past a few shoots.
Boy have things changed!
The web cam sure, coupled with great Internet speeds, made a huge difference as it allowed sassy and charismatic aspiring models to begin building their own brand presence in the cam girl format. Quality phones with amazing cameras and platforms like Instagram created another massive change, putting a lot of power in the hands of the models themselves. But what really became a disruptive force?
OnlyFans!
While the traditional concept of "porn star" absolutely still exists, as you can see in our 140,000 that you archive right here at Bang! A whole new world has exploded that allows the marketing savvy, charismatic, creator model types to own and create their own destinies.
Read on to discover the evolution of becoming a porn star!
How the Old Model Worked
Not so long ago, the production studios were the end game. Think of the major Hollywood studios, but for porn. They had all the connections, all the talent, all the power.
If a cute Midwestern 19 year old wanted to become the next porn star of the world, the path that she followed had been well-traveled. She would find a way to make it out to the West coast, porn Valley. While there, she would interview with agencies and find the right group that was willing to represent her and send her to the studios for shoots. Once she was on board with an agency, they would tell her when and where to go so that she could be the next star.
And just like Hollywood, that cute Midwestern 19-year-old had minimal control. Of anything. Branding, what kind of shoots, what kind of rates she would get. The agencies and studios would largely control that for her. And at the end of the day, that's all she would have. The content library would not be hers. In some cases, the "brand" would not even be hers.
What OnlyFans Changed for Creators
With the introduction of platforms like OnlyFans, and the availability of high quality cameras on the cell phone readily available, the paradigm shifted dramatically. Now, that cute Midwestern girl has all the power she wants, if she also has the ambition and drive.
With just a few clicks of a button, any creator can quickly open an account on any of these popular platforms and start building their very own audience. Posting new content regularly, chatting with their fans, giving special bonuses. It's a great way to build a fan base and brand that she has control of. No more agencies limiting her shoots. No studios dictating the content. No price ceilings, so long as she is willing to put in the work.
This creator based model allows these stars to be creative as they can possibly be, design the brand that they wish to become, and even just be themselves. Authenticity is what so many fans deeply crave.
From Independent to Mainstream Recognition
While platforms like OnlyFans allow the model to create their own brand and truly own their revenue streams, the awareness that they get from these platforms also helps lead them towards big studio shoots, just like Bang! They can leverage their audience and fan base to help get better gigs and even benefit from those gigs by attracting new fans that may not have known them before. And don't forget the leverage in negotiations this new star power gives them!
This is not a deviance from creator content, it's a career evolution that started from shooting content on their own.
Why Fans Are Following This Shift
It's well-known that fans today really respond to authenticity and consistency. They really want to see their favorite stars just being who they are, and consistently being they are, like we often are sitting at home. When fans are able to see their favorite creators in a new environment, like the studios, but maintain their true selves it continues to build the connection that the fans feel for the model but it also allows the creator to continue being themselves, authentic.
What This Means for the Future of the Industry
It's always difficult to predict where the future lies, but a few things seem very clear. Porn is not going anywhere any time soon! An age old enjoyment that everyone loves, even if they try saying they don't. There will always be new creators that are courageous to put out more great content over and over again. The platforms that these creators use may certainly devolve over time, and the sites that big studios may use will evolve over time as well, but they will still work together and share concepts, all in an effort to continue producing the best porn they possibly can.
A New Definition of Stardom
It seems as if the definition of stardom is always changing. New technologies create new opportunities, which creates new goalposts. One thing is for certain, someone, somewhere will always be striving to be that next star. And whether it's for an amazing porn studio like Bang! or a single creator dedicated to their fans on OnlyFans, there will always be plenty of stars for us to gaze upon.