I'm a Marine veteran. Now I'm an OnlyFans creator and proudly wear my military uniform in my content.
- Taylor Gunner is a veteran of the US Marine Corps.
- She became an OnlyFans star after she was medically retired.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Taylor Gunner. It has been edited for length and clarity.
During my basic training as a Marine, the drill instructor barked orders at me for 13 weeks straight.
The experience taught me to show respect and have discipline. Now that I'm retired, that's served me well in my career outside the armed services. About 70% of my followers on OnlyFans are active military or veterans. When I tell them, "Drop and give me 20," they say, "Thank you, ma'am, that was a great scene." They know that my role-play is authentic.
It's easy for me to click right back to where I was in the Marine Corps seven years ago. One minute, I'll be the fantasy drill instructor, the next, the recruiter. I wear the camo and dress uniforms that I wore on duty, even my old flak jacket with its metal plates. When I'm shooting content with an extra 20 pounds on me, it's a heavy workout.
Being in the Marines was challenging, especially in boot camp
I joined the Marines when I was 18. I was working as a telemarketer, server, and roller-rink attendant to pay for school. Education was extremely important to me. If I signed up, they'd pay for my degree. I'm a very driven person. I thought it would be nice to make my life better and see what I was capable of.
It was challenging at first. They whip you into shape. I had less than 10% body fat when I came home from boot camp on Parris Island, South Carolina. I was walking muscle.
My whole life revolved around the Marine Corps. I don't talk about my deployment overseas, but it was a nomad's existence. In the US, I went from North Carolina to Mississippi, California to Arizona.
I loved the excitement of handling weapons. Shooting rifles and pistols was awesome. Grenade launchers were my favorite. You just point at your target, and they do the rest.
Most of all, I loved the camaraderie and dark sense of humor. I was medically retired in 2016 after injuring my spine. The saddest thing was saying goodbye to my friends.
My self-esteem grew after I posted some R-rated photos on Twitter
I returned to my home state of Missouri and got my degree in accounting. Then I worked as an internal auditor. But I was bored. The military teaches you to do everything fast. I'd finish my work by lunchtime. In the afternoon, I'd sit in my cubicle and play on my phone.
Meanwhile, my then-boyfriend and I were in the swinging community. I posted a few raunchy shots of myself on Twitter — some in my military gear. People said things like, "She has the most beautiful eyes," and, "She looks so friendly." I had 30,000 followers. It boosted my self-esteem, and it made sense to set up an OnlyFans account.
The fans loved how I incorporated my former life as a Marine into my content, especially service members. I quit my corporate job in 2021 and became a full-time content creator. In a month with OnlyFans, I earn more than my yearly salary as an accountant. I've got 25,000 followers.
I get my self-determination from my time in the military. It gives you a confidence that's always there. It's not cockiness. It's the "can do" and "it will happen" attitude. I run my own business. I'm my own boss. I recently paid for my entire family to go on vacation in Europe.
I'm proud of the uniform that I wore in the Marines
But it's not all about money. One of the biggest reasons I brought the Marines into my content was to watch out for veterans. Suicide rates are way too high in the military community. I do a lot of what we call "buddy checks," asking if people are OK. Everybody needs a friend.
Nobody has accused me of disrespect. A lot of people wear their husband's or partner's military uniforms in photos and videos. I'm proud of my service and I earned my uniform.
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