Piper Rockelle says she grew up in front of the camera.
Now 18, the former kidfluencer known for YouTube skits and squad vlogs is turning heads with her pivot into adult content.
"I had a really great childhood throughout the whole entire thing," Rockelle told The Free Press. "My family helped me and I was just one of the lucky ones."
Rockelle launched her social media career at age 8, first on Musical.ly, then on YouTube. Her videos featured sleepovers, crushes, prank wars, and her so-called "squad," a rotating cast of tween creators filmed under the management of her mother, Tiffany Smith, and producer Hunter Hill.
"It was innocent," Rockelle said of the early content.
At its peak, the internet personality’s channel topped 12 million subscribers and reportedly pulled in over $100,000 per month. However, she has since shifted to OnlyFans, joining the subscription site on New Year’s Day and offering "VIP experiences" to users willing to tip $150.
"OnlyFans is a huge market," she explained. "It’s not for everybody, but it is for me. I love creating and making interesting things for people."
Rockelle claimed she earned $1 million in her first hour on the platform but later admitted to faking the earnings screenshot. "I know that sounds terrible," she said. "But I’m a content creator and you have to do things that normal people might not be willing to do."
Rockelle was portrayed as a victim in Netflix’s Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing, a docuseries released after the settlement. Rockelle said she hasn’t spoken to the relatives or former friends who participated in the film. "I think if I ever did that, I would be sick," she said. "We don’t need to see each other ever again."
Despite YouTube demonetizing her channel and cutting off an income stream that once reached $500,000 per month, Rockelle said she’s bounced back and is planning new ventures. She hopes to launch a cat rescue and a swimsuit line using her OnlyFans revenue. "Now that I kind of have my own chunk of money, I can fund things myself," she said. "Nobody’s going to do it for you. You have to do it yourself."
As for critics who say she was groomed or coerced, Rockelle rejected the idea. "I’m still in my house. I’m with my family every single day. My family is everything to me," she said. "I’m 18. Now, they have no choice but to believe me."