YouTuber Zara Dar, once a prominent advocate for women in science and technology, has taken an unconventional career turn. She recently announced her decision to leave her PhD program and pursue a career as an OnlyFans model. In a candid YouTube video titled “PhD Dropout to OnlyFans Model”, Zara explained her rationale, describing it as both a challenging decision and a calculated gamble on her future.
“Moving on to doing OnlyFans and content creation full-time isn’t just a career choice; it feels like a gamble on the direction of my entire life,” she shared.
Her Background in Science and Tech
Zara, who boasts over 100,000 subscribers on YouTube, previously created educational content on machine learning and neural networks. Her transition represents a stark departure from her earlier aspirations of contributing to academia and mentoring students as a professor.
While contemplating a traditional academic career, Zara weighed the prestige and fulfillment of becoming a professor against the tradeoffs of the lifestyle. “People whose lifestyles I thought I envied are tied to someone else’s vision. They’ll spend their lives working for a company and doing things they don’t necessarily enjoy,” she explained.
Why She Chose a New Path
Zara’s critique of traditional career paths highlighted the lack of autonomy and recognition in many professional environments. “Their work might win someone else’s wealth and fame while they stay in the background,” she said. She also voiced concerns about the financial and emotional toll of academic and corporate careers, emphasizing the expendability of employees and the limitations of budgeting around fixed salaries.
In pursuing a master’s degree in computer science at the University of Texas, Zara envisioned a different life for herself—one free from the constraints of academic and corporate structures. By stepping away from academia, she said she could focus on exploring topics that truly interested her, without being restricted by the priorities of funding agencies or institutional expectations.
Financial Success and Independence
Zara’s move to OnlyFans has proven financially rewarding. “I’ve made $1 million,” she revealed in her video. Her earnings have allowed her to pay off her family’s mortgage, purchase a car, and build an investment portfolio.
“Thankfully, I avoided taking out any student loans. Now, I have an investment portfolio and am planning to buy my own house. These accomplishments are a testament to the tangible rewards of carving my own path and the freedom it has brought me,” she said.
Reflections on Academia and Closing Remarks
Zara concluded her video by contrasting her current success with the realities of academia. She highlighted that most professors in the U.S. earn around $100,000 annually and spend significant time writing grant proposals, leaving little room for actual research. “That lifestyle just didn’t align with my vision for myself,” she remarked.
Her story reflects a broader conversation about personal fulfillment, financial independence, and the evolving definitions of success in today’s world.
