Beach Fern Olivia MacDonald on how becoming an OnlyFans athlete has changed her sporting career

MacDonald doesn’t delve into the adult side of things; instead, her account is full of modelling and volleyball content, while there is a platform called OnlyFans TV where she supplies videos of her training.

She also has other requirements, such as sharing posts on other platforms promoting OnlyFans branded merchandise.

Olivia Macdonald: ‘There were times my bank account would hit zero.’ Photo / Photosport

The 30-year-old is back in New Zealand as the Beach Ferns prepare for two exhibition matches against India in Auckland and Mount Maunganui. Speaking to the Herald, MacDonald explained how the partnership has changed her life.

“People don’t agree with it, but this opportunity has completely changed everything for me,” MacDonald said.

“I was really struggling. I had my gym requirements to hit, I was running out of hours in the day trying to compete and train as professional, working two jobs to make sure I can fund this.

“There were times my bank account would hit zero, because I was getting paid once a month. And so as soon as my money would come in, it would go out, because I’d be potentially paying for flights.

“I loved working. I’m not saying poor me. I know that beach volleyball is a choice, and I’ve made this choice, and I want to go hard. So, I’ve done what I can. I’m not asking for handouts. I’m getting it done myself.”

Olivia MacDonald during a volleyball tournament at Main Beach in Mount Maunganui. Photo / Photosport

Beach volleyball now receives funding from High Performance Sport New Zealand – that wasn’t always the case – but it can only go so far with the amount needed to travel the world and compete.

“Previously we’d get super excited, because we’ve had good results and we’d be like ‘Okay, this time, someone will sponsor us. We’ll put a proposal in, would send it off’. And it was just year after year of just getting rejected. No one wants to support you, or no one replies.

“It’s not something that I’m trying to promote to younger athletes. I decided for myself at 29 years old that after getting a college degree, working, competing professionally, travelling the world and funding a lot of it myself, that this is going to put me in the best possible position right now.

“For any athletes curious about it, I do think it’s a cool avenue. But it still has the stigma around it. Like there’s still a whole world of OnlyFans that people, I guess, don’t understand.”

Being an OnlyFans athlete has also opened doors for MacDonald, giving her opportunities she never would have otherwise.

Her most recent was modelling at LA Fashion Week, where she got to walk down the runway, as her management company owns a bikini company.

“It’s just opened crazy doors, not only in beach volleyball, but outside as well,” MacDonald said.

“Being able to compete not only for New Zealand, but on other international circuits as well, ones that necessarily aren’t funded by High Performance New Zealand, I can go to these events on my own dollar and benefit hugely from the experiences.

“I do reflect sometimes, and I’m like, ‘man, if I had not taken this opportunity, like, and I had just kept doing the same thing’. It’s like, ‘Only an idiot does the same thing, expects different results’.”

MacDonald admits she is one of the lucky ones, having had the chance to become an OnlyFans athlete thanks to fellow players who were riding the wave of success in the United States.

While the sport is currently getting some help, she believes more is needed to keep Kiwi athletes in the sport.

Volleyball is the second-most-participated sport in high schools, but limited opportunities afterwards mean many don’t continue.

She believes more support is still needed to help the next generation and show that there are avenues for athletes to chase.

“We lose so many players because of the financial struggles,” MacDonald explained.

“New Zealand has such a good reputation internationally for beach volleyball, but it’s much harder for us to succeed because we’re so far away and travelling is incredibly expensive.

“But I want people to see that this is a professional sport and that countries around the world invest in it. It’s huge in Europe, there are courts everywhere, and I want young athletes here to know there are opportunities outside rugby, netball or hockey.

“Players have to sacrifice so much. I’ve been able to put myself in a position where like, probably my family sacrifices more than I do, but in terms of like, if they’ve got a partner at home, financially trying to support their families, like it’s so hard, and we lose so many players because of these financial struggles.”

MacDonald believes more support at home can help make that dream achievable and that starts with the upcoming exhibitions against India.

India is a developing nation in beach volleyball, but has been given funding to take part in the event, which is part of the celebrations marking 100 years of Unity Through Sport between New Zealand and India.

MacDonald hopes it is a sign of things to come that the sport can make its return to the Commonwealth Games in Amdavad in 2030.

Beach volleyball was part of the 2018 and 2022 Games, but didn’t feature in the restricted Glasgow event earlier this year.

While the Commonwealth Games will be a long-term goal, trying to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics is on MacDonald’s radar.

The Beach Ferns have never qualified for the Olympics, so MacDonald wants to create history, but knows it won’t be a walk in the park.

An injury to teammate Shaunna Polley has impacted New Zealand’s preparations and they fell just short in a qualifying tournament in China in September, although there are upcoming qualifying tournaments where they could sneak through.

Ultimately, MacDonald hopes people leave this week’s series with a greater appreciation of not only beach volleyball but the sacrifices athletes make chasing their dreams.

“People think we’re on holiday because we’re playing on beaches in the sunshine,” she said.

“But it’s a fulltime job. We’re in the sand five days a week, in the gym, seeing physios, sports psychologists – and we love it.

“If sharing my story helps people understand that a little better, then that’s a positive thing.”

The first leg of New Zealand’s series against India starts on Thursday at Mairangi Bay, with the second leg in Mount Maunganui over the weekend.

Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.