A mum-of-two who joined OnlyFans to escape poverty is now offering to help neighbours pay for their energy bills.
Stacey Louise grew up on one of the poorest estates in Chorley, LancsLive reports. The 28-year-old said her local community helped her family in their hardest times, with neighbours knocking on the door to provide furniture, heating and food whenever they needed it.
As she grew up, Stacey suffered more hardships and found herself in an abusive relationship in her early 20s. As a result, she struggled to keep down full-time jobs and her mental health, as well as her financial health, were greatly affected.
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She now earns a 'comfortable wage' on OnlyFans and says using the app has been 'life-changing', and wants to give back to those who helped her when she was struggling. Stacey said: "I want to give back to the community that supported me.
"Last year, I helped with getting essentials out to the homeless but this year, I want to support those that are struggling even though they have a home and I know they won't want to ask for help. Mainly, I had been feeling so grateful for having heat in this weather, but then I just get hit with this pang of guilt.
"I know what it's like to go weeks without money, so I wanted to offer a judgement free option of getting help, particularly as it's getting to minus three degrees recently. The response has been overwhelming.
"I've been helping people in flats and giving them heaters, which is always the last minute option, but at least it stops them from sleeping in a sleeping bag at night or allow them to get dressed in front of a heater."
Stacey has been offering support on her Facebook page - Stacey Louise - where she is offering a bit of money to those who are really struggling, in order for them to top up their meters or provide warm clothes or a hot meal.
"Most of these people work full-time and have kids, but they're too proud to reach out," Stacey added. "They're working on what should be a liveable wage, but they can't get another income and can't afford basic things.
"I was a care assistant for five years and on minimum wage. I know people that still do the job and they're working 12-hour shifts, taking on extra hours and the money should be liveable but it's not."
Stacey says she was living in poverty until around two years ago, when she decided to join OnlyFans. She had already been modelling in her early 20s and wanted to gain a bit more independence.
Stacey continued: "I was around 22 and 23 and had been modelling a bit, but I was in an abusive relationship and struggled to hold down full-time jobs. I thought about it and decided to join OnlyFans, which allowed me to run my own business and gain my independence.
"I worked my way up to being in the top 3 per cent of creators and have a nice, comfortable wage from it. I've spent the last two years being really focused, learning the algorithm and giving my all to it - it's been life-changing.
"Now, I have a bit of spare money so instead of giving it to charity and not knowing where it ends up, I thought to try and help people directly. I know what it's like to struggle, at one point, I couldn't even afford to buy sanitary products.
"One day, when I was buying nappies, a stranger could see that I was counting my change so they offered to buy it for me and said if my situation gets better, then I should pass the gesture on."
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