Isla Moon never planned for her side hustle to change her life — she was just trying to survive.

At the time, Isla was an undergraduate studying psychology and neuroscience in Canada. Alongside her degree, she worked as a lab coordinator and research assistant. Despite her ambitions of pursuing a PhD, the pay barely covered living costs, and she was carrying around $10,000 in student debt.

Juggling multiple jobs became unsustainable, so she launched an OnlyFans account as a financial backup. At first, it was modest. She shared content on TikTok and Instagram, earning small amounts that didn’t signal a major career shift.

Then everything changed.

In May 2021, one TikTok went viral. Within just two days, Isla earned what she made in an entire year at the lab — roughly $11,000 to $12,000. The moment marked a turning point.

Fast forward to 2023, and the numbers are staggering. Isla reportedly earned around $5 million in a single year, built a massive social media following, and gained hundreds of thousands of subscribers on the platform.

Despite the success, she says the scale of it still hasn’t fully sunk in. Rather than slowing down, Isla sees the income as a launchpad — using it to fund future business ventures while continuing to create content.

What started as a necessity has become the foundation for a completely new future.