SWCEO Interviews Vanniall
Blog Post Written By: MelRose Michaels
What does it really take to stand out and thrive as a trans creator in the adult industry?
In a recent Twitter Space conversation, MelRose Michaels sits down with award-winning trans adult content creator, entertainer, and advocate Vanniall to talk about breaking out of echo chambers, finding your niche (even by accident), and navigating the hurdles of self-producing in a rapidly evolving landscape.
From camming to viral content and international films, Vanniall shares insights on community, resilience, and the power of authenticity for long-term success. Whether you're new or leveling up, this conversation is a must-read.
MelRose Michaels: Welcome.
Vanniall: Thank you. I'm happy to be here.
MelRose Michaels: I want to discuss many topics with you. My first question: How important is it to step outside these echo chambers, and what is one thing you do to expose yourself to new ideas, opinions, or experiences?
Vanniall: It’s important. Echo chambers can be comforting because they feed you only what you want to see, but they also trap you in a bubble. I get outside the internet bubble by visiting my local library and attending local events where I volunteer my time. In the end, I built friendships and a community that didn’t exist before. For me, it’s about getting out there and getting my hands dirty—that’s how I decompress.
MelRose Michaels: That’s perfect. I love that you physically interact with your community. Online work can be isolating, pushing you away from genuine community, so you must actively seek it out even though it can be hard.
Vanniall: I had to re-teach myself that community is essential—both online and in real life, where you can actually touch, talk to, and look someone in the eye.
MelRose Michaels: Great segue. Now, to kick things off, can you tell us a bit about yourself and share your journey into adult content creation?
Vanniall: My name is Vanille. I started camming after I turned 18, and I had been posting on Tumblr for a while. I realized money could be made from this. I began on Chaturbate—my first session lasted four or five hours, and I made 100 tokens. Not knowing the conversion rate, I thought I’d made a hundred bucks and was rolling in it. I soon discovered I had earned about a dollar. That taught me there is money in this work, but it requires effort. From there, I dove into making my own content and collaborated with great people.
I did a project called Mostly Pigs House, a spoof reality TV show that did well on the festival circuit. Currently, I have a film with Jiz Lee called Transit in the Circuit. I love that work, though both projects were unscripted. Now, I’m focused on creating heavily scripted, feature-length content—a balance between porn and a 90‑minute movie. Although this kind of content has been done before, it’s rarely done with trans and plus‑sized bodies. I wanted to create what I wanted to see.
My niche is essentially the “dick girl” and Internet streamer type. I attract younger fans—many of whom play Fortnite—as well as older men with different tastes. In short, I’m the Internet girlfriend with a giant schlong.
MelRose Michaels: You have such a strong presence as a trans creator. I’ve known you for a long time—even before meeting at conferences—and I’ve followed your journey as a self-producing cam model, performer, and creator of mainstream features and festival films. Is there something that helped you find your niche? I often get asked, “How do I find my niche?” There seem to be two approaches: either you build the content you want and attract an audience, or the market decides for you.
Vanniall: That happens a lot. For me, it was “accidentally on purpose.” My first viral video was a face shot that panned down to show my dick—that was the moment it took off. I must admit, I’ve recreated that video many times. It works tremendously; the new generation appreciates the consistency—even if the presentation is slightly different.
They appreciate that consistency, as do many older viewers. I definitely carved out my niche, but my options were limited—I’m working with no chesticles and just “meat city” in my pants. I love that.
MelRose Michaels: You touch on something many creators overlook: if you produce content that works on social media or adult platforms like OnlyFans, there’s resistance to repeating it—but your fans follow you because they want that consistency. I often feel I’ve done the same thing a hundred times, yet my audience keeps coming back.
Vanniall: It’s because we know we don’t want to be office workers doing the same thing every day. It works for a reason, even if it’s annoying to repeat the same thing over and over.
MelRose Michaels: I want to pivot a bit. Many creators in the CEO Society feel they don’t fit mainstream expectations or mainstream porn. They don’t know where they belong. What advice would you give them in finding a place where they belong?
Vanniall: You have to create the content you want to see—even if that means including yourself. I saw a huge gap in porn featuring people like me, and I wanted to fill it. If you know you’re different but also attractive, you have the power to create what’s missing. There may be fear because of what people might say, but people aren’t that smart or original. There’s only so much they can say—you just have to work harder to be who you want to be.
MelRose Michaels: I also get many questions about juggling multiple responsibilities. With self-producing, camming, and mainstream shoots, what are the biggest challenges of managing all these aspects?
Vanniall: Honestly, it’s remembering to have an actual social life afterward. During COVID, I hyper-focused on work—I worked tirelessly, leaving no stone unturned, but I lost contact with many friends over a year or two. I eventually realized many of my friends had moved on, and I wasn’t there for them. I did very well financially that year—I even sent a lot to the taxman—but I had no one to celebrate with. In the years that followed, I’ve made it a point to go out, dance, and call my friends because that is vital for keeping me inspired and energized.
MelRose Michaels: There’s a point of diminishing returns—about four solid hours of productive work a day. Beyond that, you’re just keeping busy without moving the needle. I try to remind myself to take breaks and step outside. Now, let’s bring up Dominique. Dominique, you have the mic—feel free to ask your question.
Dominique (via MelRose Michaels): Hi. I wanted to contribute and say I understand everything Vanille is going through. There have been times when I tried to make it out there and find my community, believing that being an adult creator would help me find my people.
MelRose Michaels: I’d like to dive into something Dominique mentioned—the challenges of rural life. Not only is community harder to build, but even basic things like reliable Internet can be a challenge. When I moved to the country, I couldn’t get Internet at my house.
Vanniall: Before I moved, I researched Internet quality by zip code on a website. Every property the realtor sent me had poor connectivity—I knew then this place wouldn’t work. Thank goodness my Wi‑Fi turned out well.
I also wanted to move to a small place. I had just left New York City because I felt suffocated by the crowds and the changing climate. In the city, there’s an ever‑growing mob mentality—it wasn’t fun or safe for me anymore, so I left. The place I moved to turned out to be extremely queer—a very small town surrounding a giant lake that once served as a lesbian cruising pool. Most residents are older lesbians, and everyone else is very queer. I feel lucky to be here, though I know it’s not easy out there.
MelRose Michaels: It can be hard to find your people, especially in a small town. When I arrived, finding people who accepted me was challenging. I believe that, until you find your crew, it’s similar everywhere—a challenge in life in general.
Let’s talk about diversifying income streams. Which platforms do you prioritize, and which are secondary? Many creators ask about this because I’m constantly re‑evaluating where to invest my resources—from DMing fans to creating content. Which platforms do you consider your primary home, and which do you use to diversify income?
Vanniall: I prioritize based on revenue, from most money to least. OnlyFans brings in the most money, so I focus on it, even though it can feel draining. Then I focus on camming, which provides good mid‑level income. If you work at it, you’ll make money; if not, you won’t. Camming also gives great exposure to my paid sites like OnlyFans by meeting new fans who have never heard of you—that’s the only place I see organic engagement these days. So, I use OnlyFans and Chaturbate first, then I use social media apps as a general umbrella. They’re good for gaining followers and attention, but they don’t pay. We must be honest—social media is a channel to funnel people to your paid sites, not a primary income source.
MelRose Michaels: I love that. I always tell creators that social media is a sales funnel—it raises awareness, but the goal is to convert followers into paying customers. Otherwise, it’s just a vanity metric.
Vanniall: Right. Even if social platforms pay, it’s nowhere near what OnlyFans does. We cannot make Twitter or Instagram our main job unless you’re selling Tide Pods. They must serve solely as channels directing people to where they pay.
MelRose Michaels: Exactly. OnlyFans is the king of the market because of its market share—even if that means you’re in its shadow. Another key point is camming. For new creators, if you’re comfortable with live interaction, camming is the fastest way to grow an audience because the traffic is already there.
Vanniall: Everyone in a cam room is there for you—they’re a highly convertible, captive audience where you can start selling anything.
MelRose Michaels: A captive audience is perfect because they’re qualified—they come to see explicit content, which is very different from what someone expects on Instagram.
Vanniall: Exactly. On social media, people might like, comment, or bookmark your content, but they’re not entering their credit card information.
MelRose Michaels: Absolutely. When advising new creators, I emphasize that social media is just to drive awareness—convert that traffic to your paid sites. On the subject of starting on a budget: I produce all my content on my phone and don’t invest in high‑production gear. I’ve learned that spending extra isn’t always necessary. If you had to give a budget-friendly tip to a new creator, what would you advise regarding what is worth spending money on?
Vanniall: That’s challenging because everyone’s situation is different. My advice is to accept that your first purchases may be subpar. You don’t need to buy the most expensive gear right away; figure out what makes the inexpensive option insufficient and find a mid‑priced alternative that meets your needs. Work smarter rather than buying the cheapest option that will likely break.
Vanniall (continuing): You don’t need to buy a $300 tripod if you can research a more affordable alternative.
MelRose Michaels: I know many creators—especially those in rural areas—struggle with accessing industry-required testing for collaborations. You mentioned the cost and accessibility of talent testing. What tip would you offer independent creators navigating affordable testing options?
Vanniall: If you’re doing couples or partner content, plan to have the content shot immediately after your test—while it’s valid. I usually accept a one‑week window rather than two, so schedule your shoot accordingly. Ensure you and your partner can both be tested; talent testing is expensive, so plan wisely.
Make sure you have a project lined up for the test results, especially if you’re in a rural area with few clinics. Don’t assume couples' content is impossible because testing is hard to access—talk to your partner and find a way to work around it. But be sure everything is in order before proceeding.
MelRose Michaels: In my rural area, working with Talent Empower has been invaluable. They send you part of the test kit, and you visit a local lab for your urine and blood draw. This makes testing much more accessible—since, for instance, the closest full talent testing in Tennessee might be in Las Vegas.
MelRose Michaels: For creators who haven’t done this yet, a little food for thought: On representation—earlier, we touched on this—do you feel that opportunities are improving for trans creatives, or do you think the gaps remain massive?
Vanniall: I don’t think the gaps are massive. Trans people have learned to force their way in—even if it means jumping through hoops. I’ve seen many beautiful new trans performers succeeding. They’re being themselves and thriving.
I’m happy they’re out there, though I worry they might not be here in 10 years. I fear that people will become afraid to be themselves. But we must stand firm and tall—sexy, hot, and ready to roar.
MelRose Michaels: It can feel defeating right now, especially with the current political climate and pervasive hate. But within our community, having conversations and supporting each other is one actionable way to ensure we have each other’s backs.
What is one thing you’d like to see—or that you think the industry could do better—to support trans or marginalized creators?
Vanniall: I think we need to experiment more. Get our hands dirty. Experiment with different partners—there is a market for varied content, and that market will find you. Don’t be scared. (Not all of us fight, except me—I bite hard.)
MelRose Michaels: I love that. Now for the final big piece: work-life balance and burnout. With your many projects—content creation, advocacy, podcasting—how do you prioritize your time and avoid burnout?
Vanniall: I force myself to recognize when I’ve been at it too long and need a break. Recently, I’ve been reading science fiction and listening to audiobooks. Since moving to the country, I enjoy cruising while listening to audiobooks—that’s how I find my Zen. I do struggle sometimes; I have to pull myself away even when I want to keep working. I remind myself that it’s okay to take a break.
MelRose Michaels: What specific goals or projects do you have for 2025? What can we expect from you, Vanille?
Vanniall: I’m working on a documentary about trans people and the homes they’ve created—or hope to create—in new spaces. I believe the current climate doesn’t see trans people as homemakers or community pillars. I’m finding people for that project. In between, I plan to produce a lot of smut.
MelRose Michaels: For everyone listening, we turn these sessions into podcast episodes later. Please share your socials or anything you’d like to plug in so people can find you.
Vanniall: I’m Vanille. You can find me anywhere under “vanniall” (with either two or three L’s), spelled V‑A‑N‑N‑I‑A‑L‑L. I’m on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
MelRose Michaels: We’re starting a tradition where every guest leaves a question for our audience to answer. They can tweet their responses using #OTWPod. If you could ask our creator audience one question, what would it be?
Vanniall: My question is: Are you doing anything or planning something to help you get through the current administration? Are you taking time for yourself, reading a book, or doing something to improve your well‑being? Think about it and consider finding something to make yourself and those around you feel better.
MelRose Michaels: I love that. It’s an important question. Thank you for coming on—I appreciate your time and the value you’ve brought to our listeners.
Vanniall: Thank you; that’s very sweet. I’m happy to be here—this is fun and easy.
Some parts of the above interview have been condensed or edited for clarity. For the full interview, listen to the entire Twitter space.
Find Vanniall on Twitter.
P.S. Want to find your niche and build a thriving business? Join the CEO Society, the private community where adult creators share strategies, niche ideas, and insider tips to grow and succeed. It’s free, supportive, and built just for you. Come network and connect with like-minded creators!
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the interview are those of the guest speaker and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SexWorkCEO or MelRose Michaels. Anything said or written is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone else.
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