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'OnlyFans makes me a better parent'
A mum who rakes in the cash by stripping off for strangers has opened up about how she is shamed for doing her job while her daughter plays in the next room – but maintains that "OnlyFans makes me a better parent".
Jessica Smyers is regularly trolled and met with negativity by people who don't agree with her career – but the model refuses to feel ashamed of the lingerie shoots that she shares with fans online.
The mum-of-one, whose daughter is four years old, first launched her account in November 2019 after three years of being a stay-at-home mum, while living with her parents in Arizona.
Jessica had been a police officer in the Navy but left after falling pregnant in 2016 and went home for support as she would be raising her daughter alone.
“It was such a hard time in my life. I'd been so driven in my career and suddenly I felt like I had no control of my career path," the 29-year-old told Jam Press.
"I felt like I couldn’t take care of myself financially, let alone my daughter.
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“The vicious cycle of self doubt and self loathing made me feel like I wasn’t ready to be a mother.
"Then social media changed my life. I was able to make enough money to provide for my daughter and move out into our own place.
“Now I have meaning, I have purpose again."
But while her career as a model has since taken off, it has come with many challenges – including the mum being shamed for her choices.
She said: “I’ve been mum-shamed for having an OnlyFans account.
"Some very traditional family members had concerns I wasn’t putting my daughter first but by working this way she can be home with me while I work.
“I think they wanted me to be a housewife with a husband to support me but that was never going to be me.”
Jessica has also been called a "slut", a "bad mum" and "irresponsible" by trolls online.
She also claims to have been judged by close friends who have distanced themselves from her.
"Society has such a problem with mums owning their sexy side but it’s a huge part of who I am and I’ll always be honest with my daughter in an age-appropriate way.
“Right now she knows I’m a model and I take pictures for a job and that’s all.
“But when we are home together she will often see me in my lingerie or with my shirt off ready for a shoot and it's perfectly innocent.
“While she plays on the other side of the apartment I will pose and make content in my room.”
Jessica also takes raunchy photos for fans while out and about; during family hikes, the mum will often step away from her daughter to create a mini set.
"OnlyFans lets me live a sexy fun life connecting to people all over the world while still providing for my family. More mums should do it," she said.
“I don’t understand the shame around it. Why is a mum on OnlyFans any different to a famous actress doing a sex scene for a movie? It is all entertainment.
"It also allows my mental health to be stable and allows me to be a better mother and to spend more time making my daughter happy.
“I have no need for millions of dollars but what I have is my sanity back and my little girl's smile.
"And that’s worth more than any bank account balance.”
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