I help adult stars sell items like used breast implants to their fans — and make 6-figures

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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Natasha Root, a 35-year-old entrepreneur from Malibu, California. Insider has verified her income with documentation. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

After working in the fashion industry for a few years, I decided in my 30s that I wanted to start my own company. I was fed up working so hard for others and not reaping the full benefits of what I was putting into someone else’s company. 

It took me a long time to think of an idea. I’m not religious, but I prayed for a sign that would point me in the direction of a moneymaking idea. In 2021, I had a dream that I helped my friend, an ex-porn star, sell her breast implants. When I told her about the dream, she thought it could be a brilliant business idea. 

So I started researching platforms that sold used items from people in the adult industry. Each website I found seemed outdated or didn’t provide a good user experience for buyers or sellers.

While adult stars can sell their items themselves, it comes with challenges. They have to handle all the logistics, including shipping and customer service, and they have to figure out how much to price each item. Most of these stars don’t have time to do this. 

I decided to launch Fans Utopia so that people could buy their favorite adult or porn star’s used panties, socks, lingerie, and more. 

I started the business by cold-calling adult-industry stars 

I had no experience in the adult industry, so when I launched the business, I first turned to my ex-porn-star friend for help. I asked her for a list of the most popular porn stars’ names. Then I sent them messages on social media explaining more about the company and how they could make money from the used items they had lying around after video or photo shoots.

The main reason these stars decided to work with me was that they spent so much money on lingerie that they wore only a few times. I facilitated a way for them to sell these items for cash so that they didn’t have to throw them away.

Natasha Root never shames her customers for their fetish or requests, and says her business is a safe space. Natasha Root We take care of all the dirty work to sell these used items 

I wanted this business to be a full-service company. We do everything on behalf of the adult stars since they are often so busy traveling and shooting content for work.

First, we build a landing page for that person so that all their items can be found in one place if a customer comes on our website and searches their name. My team often meets the star, or they come to our offices to drop off the items that they want to sell. 

We ask them to share information about each item, including when the item was used (whether for a specific scene or personal use), as well as any photos they have of themselves using or wearing the items. We then take photos of the items and store them in our warehouse.

I price the items based on a gut feeling and how interesting they are

We list a few items (and up to 25) at a time for a person on their page, and once the items are live, we share the page link with the adult star. The best marketing is often when they share the link on social media — most buyers find us from Reddit and Twitter.

Sometimes buyers have special requests or want to purchase a specific item from a star. For example, one buyer wanted used breast implants from Mia Malkova, so we completed the request and sold them for $2,500.

As far as payment goes, each star has a negotiated rate that they get when their items sell. Since there’s no industry standard for how much to price different items, I usually list them based on what I think they should cost or compare the item with another one that sold for a certain price.

I did think about doing this auction-style, but it wouldn’t work. Most buyers want to buy one item and not have to play a bidding game for it.

Certain items sell for more: Panties that have been soiled with period blood, sweat, or urine, for example, can be sold for a much-higher price than that of nonsoiled items.

Popular items include lingerie and toys. Fans Utopia Popular items include lingerie and vials of bodily fluids 

Our audience includes men who want to buy used lingerie, panties, or toys, as well as women who want to buy the lingerie because they want to wear it without having to buy it new for double the money.

Some of our most popular items are used toys, panties, and gym clothes. I get all kinds of requests for items, including hair, used implants, and custom videos. In the past, we’ve sold bodily fluids in a vial and pubic hair.

I created this to be a safe space, so I never shame customers for their requests or make them feel embarrassed. But I won’t sell blood or stool because it’s not safe to store and sell those items.

I do everything I can to verify that the items are legitimate before selling them. Some of the stars will even send a written verification letter or photos of themselves with these items to prove that they were worn or used.

In the end, I don’t want these stars’ items to sell for cheap because they spend a lot of money on their lingerie and panties, and I want to get them a price that they deserve.  

The payment split depends on the adult star’s agreement with us, but they take between 40% and 60% of the sale. We feel that’s fair since we do all the marketing, shipping, selling, and customer service.

The adult stars are happy to sell these items because they would normally just throw them away or store them in a closet. Every star is different, and what sells for them depends on what they’re known for in the porn industry.

This business has made me a successful entrepreneur, even if it’s misunderstood

In the past two years, I’ve sold thousands of items worldwide and been able to grow this into a legitimate six-figure business. In addition, we grew out of our old space and moved into a warehouse space in Westlake Village, California, that’s over 2,000 square feet.

I think the fetish and adult industry is misunderstood. Of course, some people think what I do is disturbing, but everyone has sex, and everyone has their own little quirks. You shouldn’t shame people for that.

I hope one day it’s not so looked down upon and that this business is recognized for what it is: a way for adult stars to connect with their fans and make some extra money that they deserve.

If you’ve made money working an unusual job, email Jenna Gyimesi at jgyimesi@insider.com.