When you were a kid, did you love dressing up as your favorite superhero or Disney princess? Do you still love getting into character every Halloween? If so, you might be the perfect candidate to become an erotic cosplay artist!
What is cosplay?
Cosplay is the practice of dressing up as an existing character from a piece of media. You personify the character and bring them to life. The word comes from combining the words “costume” and “play.” It was coined in 1984, right when cosplay was experiencing its first boom in popularity in Japan.
You might find people cosplaying as characters from anime, cartoons, comic books, manga, movies, TV shows, or video games. Often the most popular characters people choose are from media that is enjoyed by nerdy people.
This is because cosplaying grew out of the practice of dressing up for fan conventions. When attending a convention like Comic Con, many people want to dress up as their favorite character. Many go all out, creating wearable works of art.
The number of people who cosplay has grown substantially since the 1990s. It’s especially popular in Japan. Cosplay events are commonly featured at fan conventions, and there are cons specifically dedicated to cosplaying. Today, there are also social networks, websites, and other media centered on cosplay.
Many cosplayers prefer to create their own costumes, as they consider it part of the fun. However, it’s also possible to buy cosplay kits and individual parts of costumes to avoid doing this. You can even sometimes find pieces for your outfit from the thrift store!
There’s one more important element of cosplaying: acting. Many cosplayers attempt to copy their character’s mannerisms and body language while in their cosplays or taking photos of their creations, and it’s even common to take on a roleplaying element, especially when you’re in a group of people who are all dressed up as characters from the same piece of media.
Cosplaying can be a very fulfilling way to express yourself. In addition, some sex workers have found a way to make money erotically cosplaying online.
Sex and cosplay
It may seem a little surprising at first, but it’s common for erotic elements to be brought into cosplays, especially when women dress up.
Part of the reason for this is that many female characters, especially in anime and comic books, tend to be very sexualized. Their costumes are revealing, and cosplayers want to be as accurate as possible. They might choose the character because they feel drawn to them, but they might also choose the costume because they want to be sexy in their attire.
Some people will choose to wear erotic costumes regardless of whether the character is usually sexy, such as an erotic Pikachu costume. There are so many options if you want to get into erotic cosplay!
Cosplay is unique, because a study has found that many women feel empowered wearing their sexy cosplays. They enjoy being seen and the attention they receive for their outfits. Cosplay allows women to choose their own costumes and decide how they want to be perceived on their own terms, so they’re able to enjoy the sexualization aspect, even when they’re walking around a Star Wars convention.
Dressing in sexy, nerdy outfits is no longer just something to do at conventions or fan meetups. Many erotic cosplayers make money participating in the craft online, whether it be by selling OnlyFans subscriptions, prints of their cosplays, or pieces of their old costumes.
Want to get in on the action? You’ve come to the right place!
Current cosplayers on OnlyFans
Before you try to create your own erotic cosplay empire, you should know who’s already out on the scene. It will help you gather information and inspire you as well!
Here are some of the most popular cosplay creators on OnlyFans, as well as some of their most recent cosplays.
- Angie Griffin (Catwoman, Maleficent, Jessica Rabbit, Spock)
- Raven Widow (Captain Marvel, Elvira)
- Luce Cosplay (Lady Dimitrescu, Izanami, Gryffindor student)
- Byndo Gehk (Faye Valentine, Tifa, Starfire)
- Giu Hellsing (Kitsune, Merlin, Esdeath)
- Sia Siberia (Rainbow Dash, Uraraka, Princess Leia)
Each of these cosplayers operates their business differently. They all have OnlyFans accounts, where you can subscribe for a set rate each month. Several of them also have ManyVids accounts where you can buy porn that they make in-character.
There are lots of options if you want to make money cosplaying! Here are some of the best sources of income for erotic cosplayers.
OnlyFans
If you want to present your cosplay content in an entirely erotic light, an OnlyFans page might be your best bet. It makes it obvious up front that you are selling lewd or nude images, given the reputation of the site, and will entice people who enjoy your cosplay but want to see more.
As you saw above, there are lots of cosplayers on OnlyFans, especially women. It can be empowering to share your cosplays there and find more people who are interested in your work and what you have to offer.
It’s much easier to make it on this platform if you already have an existing audience who’s interested in your cosplays, especially if you’re already taking sexy photos. You’ll be able to promote your work to people who already love you, which is a huge advantage! If you don’t already have very many fans, you can start an OnlyFans while you continue to grow your audience.
Patreon
Let’s say making an OnlyFans account isn’t exactly what you’re looking for. You enjoy wearing outfits that are sexy, but you don’t want to make it the main thing people like about you. That’s okay! We’ll talk about some more safe for work sites that can also work well for cosplayers!
Patreon is a membership platform that allows your fans to become your patrons. You set up an account so that fans can pay you for the content you already make, as well as exclusive benefits for subscribing.
The unique thing about Patreon is their reward tiers. Once you set up your page, you’ll be able to determine what rewards you want to offer and price them accordingly. For a smaller price per month, you can offer access to photos early or access to your Patreon-only feed. For higher prices per month, you can offer access to exclusive photos, prints, previous cosplays, or anything else that you think your audience would like! You can set up as many tiers as you want, and you might be surprised how much your fans are willing to pay per month for your perks!
There’s one big thing: Patreon has some limits on the adult content they allow to be posted on their site. They do allow nudity or partial nudity, so you’ll be safe there. However, they do prohibit porn, or real people doing sex acts on camera. If you intend to produce videos of yourself masturbating or having sex, OnlyFans might be a better option for you.
Selling porn
Sites like ManyVids allow you to sell porn clips you make. If you want to create sex scenes while in your cosplays, this might be the way to go.
You can sell each porn clip individually, so people you like your cosplays can choose their favorite outfit and see porn of you wearing it. You can set the price for each video, depending on length, which sex acts you do, and any other factors you might want to take into consideration.
Keep in mind that filming full sex scenes takes a lot more work than just taking pictures. You’ll need to find other people to have sex with you, who will probably also need cosplay costumes. You’ll also likely need at least one person to operate a camera to get the best angles. This can be difficult to take on as your first way of monetizing your cosplay.
Selling porn can be a great way to subsidize your income, while still posting lewd photos on a subscription platform like OnlyFans or Patreon. However, make sure you know what you’re getting into when you start.
Selling prints
Many cosplayers have lots of success in selling prints of their ensembles. If people love your cosplay, they might want to have a copy of their favorite photo to put on their wall. For this hustle, you won’t need to make any additional content; you can simply put up photos of your old cosplays, then update your site when you do new ones.
One way to sell your prints is to use Etsy. It’s an easy way to manage your orders and seem legit to potential buyers. However, this will mean you have to ship them out yourself, and Etsy will get a cut of your money.
You might consider starting up your own online store through a site like Storenvy. You can manage the orders on your own as they come through and avoid paying as many fees to a third party service. However, this can be difficult for one person to maintain, especially if you get a lot of orders. People will want their prints out in the mail fast, and it can be hard to deliver.
No matter how you decide to sell your photos, make sure that they’re good quality, both in the resolution of the image and the way the print itself looks. This will keep your reviews positive and keep your customers happy.
If you print out and ship out the photos yourself, consider signing them! It adds a nice extra touch, and many fans like it!
Another cool thing about prints: you can sell them at conventions you attend. You can set up a booth where people can buy your prints and take photos with you, or you can have them prepared when people approach you on the floor. If you can’t get paid to make an appearance at a convention, you can at least use prints to generate income while you’re there.
Twitch
If you want to appeal to nerds who are looking for sexy cosplayers, you need to go where they like to hang out. Twitch is a haven for geeky guys, and if you like to play video games, it can be a great place to make money!
There are several ways to make money on Twitch. First, people can subscribe to your channel for perks like exclusive live streams and merchandise discounts. This will allow you to build up a monthly income.
Streamers can also buy virtual cheers, which they can give to you at any time while you’re playing. These cheers translate to dollars. Lastly, you can also make a commission when viewers buy the game that you’re playing.
Twitch could be a great income stream if you already know a lot about video games. However, if you don’t play them regularly, it would probably be best to focus your attention elsewhere.
Getting spotted by an agent
Some cosplayers are able to become professionals after being spotted by an agent at a convention. These people can get paid to attend cons at later dates, and can sometimes get sponsorship or brand deals.
You shouldn’t depend on getting signed by an agent. There are hundreds or even thousands of cosplayers at each convention, so it can be hard to stand out of the crowd. However, if you can manage it, you can make a good living once you’re signed.
If you want to go down this path, attend as many conventions as possible so there are more chances to be seen. While you’re there, spend your time mingling with other guests on the main floor so you’re visible. You could also run your own panel and talk about cosplay. One of the best ways to get noticed is to enter a cosplay contest at the convention, so be on your A game while you’re there!
Selling merchandise
If you’ve established a secure brand for yourself, you can probably make some money selling merch! You can make mugs, t-shirts, hoodies, stickers, or pins with images of your cosplays. Even better, if you can draw, you might be able to make a cute logo or design with your name on it, including illustrations of you wearing fan favorite cosplays.
You need to have great designs to do this. Hiring a designer on Fiverr could increase your odds of selling lots of merch. (Just make sure you have the rights to sell copies of their design.) Have a link to your merch in your Linktree so people can easily find it!
You can sell your merch on a site like Redbubble. They take a percent of your profits, but it’s much easier than printing all of your swag and keeping it in the spare room of your house. However, if you have a huge empire and lots of time, you could always set up your own store as well.
Amazon Wishlist
Some people don’t want to sign up for a subscription service, and they also don’t want any merch. However, they love your work, and they want to support you and help you make new cosplays. One of the best ways to get their support is with an Amazon Wishlist.
Amazon Wishlists allow you to make a list of items you’d like for your fans to purchase for you on Amazon, then send it to your followers. You’ll likely get the best response if you ask for items that you can use in future cosplays. However, some people might be willing to buy you other things for your personal life. It never hurts to ask!
Crowsource funding a cosplay that everyone’s been waiting for. Let them know what items you still need. This will keep your audience engaged and give them more incentive to donate!
If you do have an OnlyFans or Patreon, make sure you share this list with them, too! OnlyFans actually has a spot in your bio where you can post this link. Since these people are already willing to give you some money, they might want to give you more!
Note that you don’t have to be worried about someone finding your address when they buy something off your Amazon Wishlist. Amazon stores your address, but it’s never visible to buyers. However, you can always also sign up for a PO box for added security.
Cosplay is a beautiful artform that takes years of practice and lots of skill. There are tons of ways to make money off of erotic cosplay. What will you choose?