A neuroscientist in training has swapped lab coats for lingerie and says she’s never been happier after finding success on OnlyFans.
Lena Coxx, 28, from near Bologna, Italy, was working towards a PhD in neuroscience when she decided to leave academia behind to pursue a more unconventional path.
Now living in southern France, she earns a living sharing adult content online.
“I wanted to work in research,” Lena told NudeNewz. “But during my PhD, I realised the environment wasn’t for me. I didn’t see myself spending the rest of my life in a lab.”
After the Covid lockdowns, she began hearing about OnlyFans and, encouraged by her then-boyfriend who enjoyed taking photos, decided to give it a go.
“At first it was just a hobby,” she told NudeNewz. “I was getting more confident in my body, and it felt natural to try. I started with him, then later began working with professional productions before focusing on my own content.”
Three years later, she’s built a loyal fanbase across OnlyFans, Twitter and Instagram, with followers loving her “authentic” and “versatile” personality.
“I think people like that I’m real,” Lena said. “I can do rough scenes, I can do sensual ones, I just make sure it feels genuine.”
She now produces her own videos full-time, saying the creative control and flexibility beat any nine-to-five.
“The best part is the freedom,” she told NudeNewz. “I choose who I work with, when I work, and how. It’s stressful sometimes, but I feel more in control of my life.”
Before turning to adult content, Lena worked as a tutor and bartender while studying, but says she now earns “definitely more” than she ever would have as a researcher.
“I save most of it,” she explained. “Next year I want to start investing properly.”
Her income also funds regular travel and collaborations, and this year alone she’s visited Spain, Hungary, Amsterdam and the UK.
“I spend money on good food, travel and time with friends,” Lena said. “Of course, we have to look after ourselves too, lashes, nails, all that.”
Despite initial nerves about telling her family, she says they were surprisingly supportive.
“My parents just wanted me to be safe,” Lena told NudeNewz. “My friends weren’t shocked at all, they already knew I had a wild side.”
Lena admits growing up in Italy, where “women with an open mind were stigmatised”, shaped her desire for independence.
“I always wanted to be free,” she said. “Moving to France, and then starting this job, helped me embrace my femininity. Now I see it as a strength.”
Though she enjoys her success, Lena says the job can come with pressure.
“It’s precarious,” she admitted. “You’re not guaranteed work or views. Sometimes it’s scary. But the positives outweigh the negatives.”
Above all, she says, the career has boosted her mental wellbeing.
“I’m happier now,” she told NudeNewz. “I have more time for myself, less stress, and I finally feel comfortable in who I am.”
