Growing up in a poor neighbourhood in British Columbia, Canada, things weren't always easy for Sofia Sunshine and her family.
Despite "trying her best" to provide, Sofia says her mother Samantha, 63, was forced to go to food banks to keep the family fed, and there wasn't always enough money to buy warm clothes.
Now 32, Sofia has established a successful career as an OnlyFans creator and earns more than enough to take care of her once-struggling mum.
With more than 61,000 fans on TikTok, Sofia feels "empowered" by her career choice, which has allowed her greater freedom plus the flexibility to work from home.
Best of all, she can make sure her loved ones are free of financial worries.
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Sofia said: "My mum is very proud and did her best for us but she suffered from arthritis in her 40s and at times couldn't work. During my teenage years, we lived in the 'projects' and couldn't afford to buy food, so would go to food banks. My mum did whatever it took to make sure we had the basic things we needed".
As an autistic woman, Sofia has faced various other challenges as an adult, dealing with money concerns and the feeling of being "burnt out".
Although she's had lots of jobs - including waitressing, sales and admin - she found that nothing ever felt quite right and she always felt as though she was somehow "failing".
Sofia continued: "I’d get so burnt out dealing with people. I didn’t realise it at the time but I was overstimulated by conforming to everyone’s idea of normal. It was a symptom of my autism but I believed there was something wrong with me. Most days, I could barely get out of bed to face the cold, because I couldn't afford warm clothes and I was homeless for a few months too. I have vivid memories of myself freezing on my way to work, thinking that there has to be more to life than this".
The model reached a turning point in 2017, joining OnlyFans in the hope that it would free her up for home working and enable her to, spend more time with her chihuahua and support animal, Khaleesi. The decision proved to be life-changing.
Sofia admitted: "It feels incredible to be able to buy my mum nice clothes and presents. She doesn’t care that the success I have happens to be in sex work, she is just happy and proud that I have finally found a way to earn money that works for me".
Proud mum Samantha helps Sofia run her OnlyFans business, with her tasks including scheduling posts and sorting out paid adverts. The pair isolated together during lockdown and - once restrictions eased - Sofia sorted out for her mother to have her own place just 10 minutes away from hers.
Samantha said: “I love to see Sofia doing well for herself after struggling for so many years and it is my honour to support her in her work and for us to be so close as mother and daughter. I am very proud of our relationship".
Sofia added: "I've lived on the street and now I rent a huge house and have my own furniture, that's a very big thing to me. And I can afford therapy too, which is a luxury everyone should have. I no longer have to rely on government services – which can often take a very long time. I can’t tell you what it has done for my anxiety to have control of my life. I feel empowered".
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