A model has revealed how she turned her 15 minutes of fame into a brand new career that now sees her earn $400,000 a month.
Kira Pregiato was a ‘small town girl’ studying to become a physician assistant when her life changed overnight.
The then student made a TikTok about how much she loves cologne, which – much to her disbelief – racked up 20 million views and 9,500 comments.
READ MORE: ‘I’m so hot I’m forced to pay up to £10,000 to ONLY fly first class and avoid being ogled by men’
Kira soon became something of a celebrity in her small community.
Having always dreamed of becoming a content creator, she decided to leverage her viral moment.
The 20-year-old now makes thousands of dollars from simply being herself online.
“Ever since I was a little kid I would make videos hoping they would blow up, so when it finally happened it felt surreal,” said the model, who has 248,000 followers on Instagram @kirapregiato.
“I was at a birthday party when it happened.
“I remember glancing down at my phone as the notifications rolled in – every time I refreshed my page, there were hundreds of new likes and comments.
“I went to the bathroom and this girl I’d never met before came up to me to say she’d seen it.
“I was shocked – it was just a video of me talking about how much I love cologne.
“But as the views kept going up, I spotted an opportunity and I decided to take advantage of it.
“I didn’t want just 15 minutes of fame.
“It was exciting, scary and overwhelming all at the same time.
Kira started sharing more videos and her follower count just kept going up.
Eventually, she decided to drop out of university to pursue a full-time career as a model and influencer.
Her parents were apprehensive but ultimately supportive of their daughter’s decision.
But TikTok was not enough – Kira wanted more money and fame.
She initially tried out “more PG” platforms like Fanfix before transitioning to OnlyFans, despite initially insisting she would never go down that route.
Kira said: “I live in a small town and was raised in a middle-class family.
“My life was disturbingly normal, so having a viral TikTok is a big deal in our community.
“My friends thought it was cool – they would make jokes about me being a ‘celebrity’, but I don’t think they expected my influencer career to really take off.
“At the time, my parents [Michelle and Rob] didn’t even have TikTok.
“When I told them I was dropping out of college to pursue a career as an influencer, they were nervous but also amazed by the possibilities.
“My family have always been super supportive because they know I have a passion for social media.
“Soon, I noticed that most people were commenting about and complimenting my body.
“Some fans also started DMing me asking for premium content to see more.
“I told everyone that I was never going to make an OnlyFans account but the temptation got to me.
“I was curious to see what might happen.
“It was bizarre to see the cash coming in almost instantly.
“Even now, when I look at my bank account, it doesn’t feel real – it feels like Monopoly money.
“This was something I always said I would never do, so I think it was a shock to my parents at first.
“They were a little hesitant but we had a long discussion and after explaining my boundaries they were supportive.
“Ultimately, they just want me to be safe and happy.”
Kira was shocked when she earned an eye-watering $750,000 (USD) in one month, describing the experience as a “rollercoaster”.
On average, she now pulls in between $400,000 and $500,000 monthly – exceeding the salaries of top medical professionals, including the very career she once set out to pursue.
The model quickly splashed out on her dream car, a BMW M4 Competition – but otherwise, insists she’s focused on long-term planning with plans to buy property.
She said: “There are so many pros and cons to social media – and OnlyFans – but the pros definitely outweigh the cons.
“I post all different types of content but I guess my niche is my large chest.
“But becoming an influencer has definitely been a big transition.
“At first, I didn’t know what to do with the money I was making and I was trying to figure out how to adapt to my new situation.
“Apart from buying myself a car, I am mostly saving my money.
“I wouldn’t mind going into real estate and investing in a few houses.
“I also want to spoil my loved ones.
“My parents and brother Dean are truly the best family I could have asked for.
“They are very proud of me, unlike what most people would believe.
“I want to use my fortune to pay them back for all that they have done for me.”
Despite the glitz, Kira admits the lifestyle has its downsides – including feelings of loneliness and growing distant from some friends.
She said: “I haven’t really lost friends but it’s difficult to stay connected to them since I dropped out of college.
“Some of my friends have told me they’re jealous of me.
“That’s hard for me because I don’t want to leave them behind but I can’t apologise for my success either.
“A lot of people from my old high school subscribe to my OnlyFans.
“I find it funny and a little weird, because we didn’t hang out back then so I don’t really get why they are creeping up now.
“It honestly doesn’t affect me emotionally.
“At the end of the day, they’re paying me just like any other fan.”
With a million a month safely stored in the bank, Kira isn’t slowing down any time soon.
She added: “I just look at the positives.
“I feel a bit overwhelmed sometimes but I try to remind myself that I have an amazing life.
“Not everyone gets this opportunity.
“I’m super excited to start travelling soon and to see what the future holds.
“I can’t believe it all happened because of a viral video.”
READ MORE: ‘I’m a professional escort – THESE are the signs your man is cheating’
