British woman, 21, earns more than doctors after becoming OnlyFans model 

A woman turned her back on a promising career as a neuroscientist to become a pole dancer and stripper – and now earns more than her wealthy parents.

Mercedes Valentine, 21, from Brighton, has swapped a uniform of lab coats for saucy underwear – which has landed her a position in the top 0.1% of creators on adult content site OnlyFans.

Having being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome when she was 15, she was left wheelchair-bound and having to relearn how to walk again.

After two years of strenuous physical therapy, Mercedes was mobile again and prepared to follow in her doctor parents’ footsteps, by studying neuroscience.

But pumped with her new-found energy, she joined the university gym and signed up for weekly pole dancing lessons.

When she finished her degree, a friend from her pole dancing class suggested she give stripping a go at a local bar – and Mercedes has never looked back.

Since embarking on the world of stripping and OnlyFans – which sees her earning up to £1,000 a night – Mercedes has now earned more than her parents’ £200,000 combined income. 

She first started when she finished her degree and a friend from her pole dancing class suggested she give stripping a go at a local bar

Mercedes, who has 134,000 followers on Instagram (@mercedesthedancerxo), has no regrets, and says she absolutely loves what she does

‘I have no regrets, I absolutely love it,’ Mercedes, who has 134,000 followers on Instagram (@mercedesthedancerxo) said. 

‘Because of my condition, my joints are more bendy so I was able to pick pole dancing up pretty quick.

‘My parents are both doctors and know what I do, but my dad can’t bring himself to say pole dancer and instead opts for ‘pole gymnastics’. 

After two months of working as a stripper, the world went into lockdown due to Covid-19, leaving Mercedes without a source of income

‘I think at first they were a bit shocked I didn’t follow the path they had in mind for me.

‘We’re a family of doctors and my sister is a lawyer so this is a bit different, but they’ve got used to it now and are really supportive.’

Mercedes began stripping in January 2020 and found she was a natural.

Because of her condition, her joints are more bendy than most so she was able to pick pole dancing up quickly

Then and now. Mercedes parents are both doctors and know what she does but her dad can’t bring himself to say pole dancer and instead opts for ‘pole gymnastics’

But while she enjoys her line of work, she admits there have been some ‘strange encounters’.

She said: ‘One time there was this couple and the guy seemed really quiet and shy.

‘I tried to get him out of his shell and danced a little closer and started speaking to him. 

He tried to whisper in my ear but I couldn’t really hear him.

‘When I turned around, he managed to press his nose into my bum. It was really weird, I wasn’t expecting it.

Being able to work on her account during the pandemic meant she’s mostly saved the money and hasn’t splashed it around on expensive things

While Mercedes enjoys her line of work, she admits there have been some ‘strange encounters’ with clients

‘I’ve also had a guy say I look like his daughter and try it on with me. I felt a bit sick then.

‘But for the most part it is really fun – I basically walk around and wriggle my bum cheeks and I make hundreds of pounds a night.’

But while Mercedes was enjoying her career as a stripper, after two months on the job, the world went into lockdown due to Covid-19, leaving her without a source of income.

Not keen on returning to the world of science, Mercedes created an OnlyFans account in April 2021 sharing raunchy content, which has seen her earn over £200,000 and put her in the top 0.1 per cent of creators.

Among her bad experiences while stripping, Mercedes revealed one man said she looked like his daughter and tried it on with her which made her feel sick

Being scared of having to go back to a wheelchair by the time she’s 30 makes Mercedes want to use her body

Mercedes describes her new job as ‘really fun’ saying she basically walks around and wriggles her bum cheeks while making hundreds of pounds a night

She said: ‘It was great to be able to do that during the pandemic. I’ve mostly saved the money and haven’t splashed it around on expensive things.

‘If I’m able to use my now-functioning body to help set me up for life, then I will.

‘I’m always scared that I’ll be back in a wheelchair by time I’m 30 and want to use my body.

‘I’ve got a first-class degree in neuroscience – so it’s always something I can fall back on if I need to.’