A woman who has been living on the road for almost a year reveals how she funds her nomadic lifestyle through OnlyFans – and saves almost $1,000 a month on no longer paying rent.
Violett Rose, 27, originally from Aotearoa, New Zealand, started her van life journey over 10 months ago after ending a long-term relationship and quitting her 9-to-5 job.
Originally launching her OnlyFans in January 2021 “as a joke”, the former teaching assistant and administration officer soon realised she was more comfortable getting her kit off naked for strangers than her partner – which was the final nail in the coffin for the couple.
In March, Violett ditched her job to become a full-time OF creator and a few months later in September, invested in a self-contained Toyota Regius Ace van.
“The idea [for OnlyFans] all came about as a joke around new years, I never thought anything would happen from it,” she told NudeNewz..
“I was already feeling such a positive change in my self-esteem and confidence levels after only being on there a few weeks.
“Doing OnlyFans also motivated me to end my relationship, as I felt like it was wrong to be more comfortable getting my kit off for strangers than for my partner.
“I went from having what felt like a bunch of responsibilities to only needing to worry about myself within a week.”
The model splashed out her savings on the £12,750 vehicle ($25,000 NZD), before setting off in December that same year, to live in the van full-time.
The previous owners had already done work on it, installing a mini kitchen, fridge, sink and pantry.
Violett added minor details including an alarm, extra storage and window tints and then set off on her adventure.
Life on the Road in New Zealand
So far, she is yet to leave New Zealand, having explored the north parts of the island and taken a lot of saucy nature shots along the way.
The model has taken in sunsets and sunrises at Milford Sound, gone swimming in waterfalls and is headed to see the Pancake Rocks, Roy’s Peak and Hooker Valley.
She said: “The van is great to travel around in and I’ve not had any issues with finding places to park.
“I decided to add a few things to it to make it more comfortable for full-time living, including window tints, an alarm and extra storage.
“There were a couple of minor issues with the van that weren’t disclosed at the time of purchase but I was lucky enough to have friends that work with vehicles to help me get most of those issues fixed for free.”
Family Support and Mental Health Boost
Violett’s friends and family have also been super supportive of her choice to become a nomad, as well as using OnlyFans to support her new lifestyle.
She added: “My friends are so happy and excited for me and always love to ask questions and hear stories about my travels and OnlyFans.
“My family has seen the positive shift in my mental health since joining OnlyFans and love the van life adventures that I get to have.
“I’m a huge advocate for mental health and I absolutely love that I now get to hear from people who tell me how my social medias and self have helped them feel happier and less alone.”
The decision to embrace van life came after watching others document their nomadic journeys online.
She said: “But seeing people online living and travelling from their vans I knew that was the way I wanted to go see the country.
“It meant I could travel without worrying about needing to go back to a home base as I was taking everything I owned with me.”
Six-Figure Income, Minimal Expenses
Violett’s OnlyFans career has also taken off in the past year, with the model now making six figures per year.
But her expenses have also been cut down dramatically.
She said: “The great thing about van life is that it gives you so much more flexibility in terms of bills and life expenses.
“You don’t have a set weekly amount to pay as your ‘rent’ ends up being your petrol (or diesel) so you only pay as much as you need to travel that week.
“When I was renting a flat, my rent would be $230 a week before expenses, which would have felt a lot better if the money wasn’t going towards a damp room in an old house that had been split into two separate flats, with two people in the flat below me and two flatmates sharing the top storey with me.”
The transformation from struggling renter to financially independent nomad still surprises Violett.
She added: “The money from OnlyFans is absolutely wild to me as I came from a very poor upbringing and never thought that I would be earning what I do now.
“Living in a van has been the most freeing experience of my life.
“It’s allowed me to grow and discover more about myself and the world than I would have personally been able to had I stayed living in a flat.
“Pushing myself out of my comfort zone and living this lifestyle has helped me more than I can even begin to express.”
The Reality of Van Life Costs
In terms of weekly expenses, Violett’s financial picture looks dramatically different from her flat-renting days.
She said: “In terms of how much I spend now per week, it can sometimes be $0 on petrol if I haven’t changed locations, my phone bill is about $80 and sometimes I’ll top up $10 worth of data so I can upload my OnlyFans.”
Her initial investment in the van and modifications totalled approximately $27,300 NZD, including:
- Van: $25,000
- Window tints: $300
- Alarm system: $1,000
- Van battery: $700
- Storage: $200-300
- Rechargeable shower: $100
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Like other creators who’ve found financial freedom through adult content platforms, Violett has used her earnings to fund an unconventional lifestyle.
Words of Warning for Aspiring Creators
Although she has seen a lot of success on the site, Violett has a few warning words for anyone looking to follow in her footsteps.
She said: “Honestly, it [the income] changes each month and it can vary quite significantly, so don’t let the money side of things be the influencing or motivating factor if you want to join OnlyFans.
“The experience is different for everyone and I know a lot of girls that work really hard and don’t earn nearly as much as they’re worth.”
Violett’s cautionary note reflects a broader reality in the creator economy – that success stories like hers represent the exception rather than the rule.
Many creators struggle to gain traction on platforms like OnlyFans, working long hours for modest returns.
The Van Life Movement Meets OnlyFans
Violett’s story sits at the intersection of two growing trends: the van life movement and the rise of digital content creation as a viable income source.
Van life has exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly among younger people seeking freedom from traditional housing costs and nine-to-five constraints.
Platforms like OnlyFans have simultaneously opened new revenue streams that support location-independent lifestyles – no office required, just internet access and a camera.
For Violett, the combination proved transformative, allowing her to escape both a stagnant relationship and the financial pressure of expensive, substandard rental accommodation.
Her Toyota Regius Ace has become both home and mobile studio, enabling her to create content against New Zealand’s stunning natural backdrops whilst keeping overhead costs minimal.
The flexibility to earn income from anywhere while exploring her home country represents a lifestyle that would have been nearly impossible to sustain just a decade ago.
For now, Violett continues her journey around New Zealand’s scenic locations, blending the freedom of nomadic living with the financial security of her online platform.
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