From 0 to 5 Million: Ona Artist’s Instagram Strategy for OnlyFans Creators

SWCEO Interviews Ona Artist

Blog Post Written By: MelRose Michaels

If you're an adult creator trying to crack the Instagram code and actually make money from social media, this conversation is your cheat sheet. Ona Artist has grown over 5 million followers on Instagram and more than 10 million across platforms—all while building a 45-acre ranch, investing in the stock market, and funding her art career. She’s done it while navigating shadowbans, constant algorithm shifts, and the unique challenges adult creators face online.

In a recent Twitter Space conversation, MelRose Michaels sits down with Ona Artist to break down the exact strategies behind her success—and how you can start using them today.

MelRose Michaels: Ona Artist, also known as Courtney Rose, is here to break down how she built her massive following, how she keeps engagement alive, and most importantly, how to turn an audience into income. Ona, thank you so much for joining us.

Ona Artist: Thank you! I’ve loved your work from the beginning and really admire what you're doing with your community. I'm honored to be here.

MelRose Michaels: Thank you! To start off, can you give us a quick intro for those who might not be familiar with you?

Ona Artist: Sure! I started in the adult industry in 2010 with a persona called Sarah White, the Naked Therapist. I did a press release and it went viral—it was picked up by thousands of media outlets. That was before social media was even a big thing.

I later transitioned from one-on-one camming to something broader. In 2015, I started my Instagram from zero. At the time, I had just finished my master’s degree in art. I really leaned into Instagram—it loved me, and I loved it back. I grew to 5 million organically, just through content and explore page views—no paid promo.

Around 2020, I started coaching other models on how to do the same. I now have multiple personas across different platforms and use them to test growth strategies.

MelRose Michaels: That’s incredible. You've been in the industry for over a decade—how has your career evolved over that time?

Ona Artist: Before OnlyFans, monetizing was much harder. With OnlyFans, conversion is way better because everyone is already on it. I used to have a private website, but I shut it down once I realized how much easier it was to convert traffic on OF. It’s still the best entry point for creators and fans.

MelRose Michaels: And OF is still your primary income source?

Ona Artist: Yes, it is.

MelRose Michaels: Let’s get into your Instagram growth. What did that initial climb—from zero to 50k—look like?

Ona Artist: Back in 2015–2016, I found that if I posted great content, large “collection pages” would repost and tag me, which drove traffic. It started a natural cycle of engagement. I’d thank them in captions, and others would notice.

It really comes down to content. I call it “Instagram candy”—beautiful, scroll-stopping visuals that the algorithm loves. Once I hit 50k, I started doing SFS (shoutout-for-shoutout) with other models and eventually used Lives to grow from 3 million to 5 million.

MelRose Michaels: What does “Instagram candy” content look like?

Ona Artist: It’s all about natural light, subtle touch-ups, and realistic textures—nothing over-filtered. Your content should feel touchable, like you’re right there. Open body language helps, too—uncrossed arms and legs, nothing overly covered. Have fun with it.

MelRose Michaels: Instagram’s tough with restrictions. How do you keep your account safe?

Ona Artist: I’ve compiled a list of things not to do to avoid deletion—never directly link to OF, for example. You can link to a site that links to OF, but don’t put OF in your bio. I’m constantly adjusting content and working within IG’s rules. My main account has gone down twice, but I always got it back. If something gets flagged, I switch to “mild mode”—I have folders labeled “mild” and “medium,” and I stick to the safer stuff when needed.

MelRose Michaels: What about engagement? Any tips to boost that?

Ona Artist: Asking questions in captions helps, but for me, good content drives engagement naturally. I try to reply to comments, but honestly, it starts with the post itself.

MelRose Michaels: Yeah, often low engagement is more about content than shadowbanning. Would you agree?

Ona Artist: Absolutely.

MelRose Michaels: You're great at tracking trends. What’s the biggest challenge for new IG creators right now?

Ona Artist: Getting over the initial hump. People post a few times, see no results, and quit. Start slow—don’t post 20 photos on day one. Act like a regular user. Focus on getting above the baseline where you start seeing page views.

Today, photos—not reels—are back to being the best for growth. Use creator account insights to track what gets explore traffic. Try different outfits, poses, and vibes to see what sticks. If you’re not getting traction, try SFS or go live with other models. Group lives are my favorite tool right now.

MelRose Michaels: What do you do on group Lives?

Ona Artist: Keep it simple and safe-for-work—cute outfits, dancing, working on a computer, or just being present. Some models do interactive things like bikini try-ons or yoga classes. I prefer “silent lives”—no talking, sometimes even looping pre-recorded video using a phone pointed at an iPad.

MelRose Michaels: If a creator feels stuck, like nothing is working on IG, what would you recommend?

Ona Artist: Go into full “mild mode.” Clean out any risky posts, archive, or links. Post safe, even boring content like dresses for a couple of weeks. If it still doesn’t improve, start a second account for a fresh try. All accounts are saveable, but sometimes you need a clean slate to see what’s working.

MelRose Michaels: Any other underrated growth strategies?

Ona Artist: Right now, slightly sheer clothing in photos is working surprisingly well. Crochet dresses, things that show just enough outline or shadow—Instagram still allows those and they perform great. Reels used to dominate, but right now, it’s photos again, unless your reels have a really unique hook.

MelRose Michaels: Let’s talk about monetization. With so many followers, how do you actually convert them?

Ona Artist: Great content does the work. People know what to do—they’ll check your link in bio. I don’t even mention it in posts anymore. Instead, focus on a seamless experience from your Instagram to your landing page to your paywall.

Make sure your persona is consistent all the way through. If your IG says “18-year-old baddie” and your OF says “medical student,” that’s confusing. One of my students had that issue. Once we aligned her brand across platforms, her conversion improved.

MelRose Michaels: You’ve mentioned “story” and “persona” a few times. Can you define those more clearly?

Ona Artist: Sure. Your “persona” is your overall character or vibe. I have a main persona, but also a pregnancy persona and a MILF persona.

Your “story” is the unique angle of that persona—what you care about and what makes you different. I use a method I call “story, show, share.”

• Story: Define your brand—your vibe, your values.

• Show: The shoot—your content creation and visual aesthetic.

• Share: Distribute your content across platforms efficiently.

  
  

And yes, your story should be consistent across the journey from post to paywall.

MelRose Michaels: Do you post content to all platforms at the same time?

Ona Artist: Depends. I have levels of content—mild, medium, hot, and extra. Each platform gets different levels, depending on what’s allowed. But I only drive traffic from Instagram straight to OF—no reason to send people to Twitter or Reddit first. Fewer clicks mean better conversions.

MelRose Michaels: If there’s one takeaway from today’s chat, what would it be?

Ona Artist: Instagram is a great way to define your brand and build your business. Focus on socials and let them drive people to your OF. You’ll make more money and have a more stable income. And if you’re stuck, get feedback—don’t try to figure it out alone. Ask your community, ask me. It’s totally doable.

MelRose Michaels: One last thing—we like to end by asking our guest to leave a question for the audience to think about and tweet at us using #OTWPod. What’s your question?

Ona Artist: What is your story on Instagram? What are the three things that define your brand?

MelRose Michaels: Love that. What would yours be?

Ona Artist:: For Ona Artist:

• Artist

• Americana (desert/rural vibes)

• All-natural (no body mods, big curly hair, intimate feel)

  
  

MelRose Michaels: And where can people follow you?

Ona Artist: On X/Twitter, follow @YourBestInsta. That’s the best place to reach me. I don’t check DMs on my main account. You can also message me on Telegram—username is

@YourBestInsta. I have a free Instagram info group, a guide to Lives, and SFS/live groups there.

MelRose Michaels: Thank you so much, Ona. This was packed with value.

Some parts of the above interview have been condensed or edited for clarity. For the full interview, listen to the entire Twitter space.

Find Ona Artist on Twitter

P.S. If growing your Instagram reach, boosting engagement, or getting more clicks to your link-in-bio is on your radar, Ona’s tools at YourBestInsta.com/shop are a must. Use code SWCEO for 20% off—and know you’re supporting the work we do here too, since 15% of your purchase comes back to us.

Want to keep the momentum going? Inside CEO Society, you’ll get access to exclusive courses you won’t find anywhere else—like Mastering DM Sales: 10 Pro Strategies for Maximizing Your Earnings. If you're serious about turning conversations into conversions, this one’s a game-changer. Join the CEO Society and start selling smarter, not harder.

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.