There is a very popular reality TV show whose producers asked us not to directly name in this interview, but I’ll give you a clue: it involves hastily engaged couples who make very entertaining use of their K-1 visas to marry each other. It draws millions of viewers per episode, has over a dozen spinoff series and Stephanie (aka Stepanka) Matto made history by coming out as bisexual as part of the show’s first gay pairing.
Yet even before her mainstream fame, Matto was rapidly becoming a YouTube sensation, where she has nearly 400K subscribers who tune in to listen to her share her latest love-life gossip in cleavage-baring outfits.
To be honest, most of my fans prefer my solo stuff.
Soon enough, she realized her predominantly male fans (though there are plenty of ladies as well!) wanted to see even more of her, so she delved into the NSFW realm of Patreon, expanding her reach (and profits). One thing led to another, and Matto is now full-on, full-frontal for her OnlyFans, her journey into the content creation side of adult entertainment firing on all cylinders.
Matto has also engaged her burgeoning audience as an activist, having survived a chronic rare blood disease called aplastic anemia. By raising awareness of the condition and encouraging fans to donate their own blood, as well as signing up for a bone marrow registry, she is having a life-saving impact.
Now, she is eyeing her next entrepreneurial venture, as she prepares to launch her very own indie content platform for the community: Unfiltrd.
Her timing, of course, is impeccable, given the ever-present threat of getting deplatformed and the very recent drama it caused for countless stars. Since Matto is a fighter, as well as a ceaselessly restless overachiever, she’s ready to leverage her wits, work ethic and willpower to uplift other creators, as you’ll discover in this exclusive interview.
XBIZ: Tell us about your content creator journey on YouTube where you have nearly 400K subscribers.
MATTO: I started YouTube about eight years ago when I had no friends, no life and was really just looking for something to help me be creative and find a community. After a couple years, I began to do story-time videos about my dating and sex life, and it really took off. I guess wearing low-cut shirts and talking about love and relationships brought in a very targeted audience, which then helped me in branching out into more NSFW content. I still do YouTube to this day, but I don't see it as my main hustle anymore. It's something I love to do and it's something I always see myself doing.
XBIZ: What was it like starring in the very popular reality TV show we’re not allowed to name, but in which you explored your bisexuality as half of the program’s first gay couple?
MATTO: It happened so fast, and was so surreal. It's like one day we were doing an interview with producers, and the next day we were filming the first episode. I don't think the gravity of the situation or the popularity of the show really struck me until the season started airing. And at that point it was too late, I was way in over my head! I think it's not the most ideal situation to be discovering a relationship and your sexuality on national television, or in a foreign country with someone you met online. But I'm all about taking chances and risks.
XBIZ: How did you leverage your reality show stardom to build an even stronger following on social media?
MATTO: I wasn't exactly the most well-liked person during my season, and to be honest, I can completely understand why. I was kind of a Debbie Downer type. It was not a great time in my life, physically or emotionally. But I think that resonated with a lot of people, and especially others going through mental health struggles, illness, etc.
I felt that after the show I had an opportunity to show people my real self. People who watched the show saw a closed-off, insecure and prudish person. But online they see a sexier side, and so there was a lot of confusion. I kind of had to show people that these two sides of me exist, and that I am not just a cut-and-dried person... that although I do technically do sex work now, I am actually quite a reserved person in real life.
XBIZ: Speaking of sex work, what inspired you to begin creating adult content via OnlyFans?
MATTO: I was on Patreon for many years doing NSFW content. For me, it was purely a business move. I saw that, after a few years of doing YouTube, I had a predominantly male audience that wanted to see more of me. And once I got my Patreon going, within a month or two I was making very good money. Then, it sort of snowballed from there. I like dressing up, I like getting in touch with my sensual side and I do it for a couple hours each day when I'm creating content. Then, I change back into my sweats and resume being a potato.
XBIZ: Discuss your interest in crypto and the strategy behind pairing it with access to your NSFW offerings.
MATTO: I really got into crypto at the beginning of quarantine. I was home all of the time, with more time to spare than usual. I also met a guy online who kind of became my mentor in crypto, and together we decided to team up and develop a course for beginners. We figured taking crypto and adding boobs and ass would appeal to the majority of male (and even female) crypto enthusiasts! Now, we are both setting out on a new endeavor that is to completely branch off from OnlyFans. We have created an 18+ friendly platform for influencers, reality TV stars and adult entertainers. Our site, Unfiltrd.com, has launched as of August 28, and it's going to be the new home of my 18+ content and sexy crypto guides.
XBIZ: As someone who is open about their fight with aplastic anemia, talk about your advocacy work to uplift others.
MATTO: I am so lucky to be in remission. In the three years I have battled aplastic anemia, I have seen quite a few friends and people from my support group pass away. Aplastic anemia is extremely rare; it affects about one in every million people each year. People don't realize how much of a difference they can make just by donating blood, or by joining the bone marrow registry. I began to advocate for the bone marrow registry here in the U.S. because so many people do not have a viable match in the registry, as well as myself. I think it also gives me a sense of purpose, because I have to be honest with myself: doing adult content doesn't really do much for my soul, personally. I want to feel that I am making an important difference in people's lives, and also bring a sense of purpose for all of the challenges I've dealt with.
XBIZ: How do you balance feed-based updates for OnlyFans subs, payto- view content and private messages?
MATTO: I post every single day, and now that I have branched off onto my new platform, Unfiltrd, I am aiming to post even more! I just never stop. My skin literally hates me because I wake up and do full glam every day. But I love it, and I love to hustle and make money. I think that's why I've been able to keep doing this for so long and maintain my lifestyle. It made so much sense for me to make my own platform because I got tired of being at the mercy of someone else's rules. Now I can make my own rules, protect my content better, get less of a cut taken from my earnings and also be on a platform surrounded by other equally amazing and talented creators!
XBIZ: What lessons from years as a SFW creator have proven invaluable in growing your OnlyFans?
MATTO: The biggest lesson is always consistency. If you get up, do the work, keep trying and keep evolving, you will succeed. If you fail via one strategy, then don't stop. I never settle down and often think, “Okay, I'm comfortable here, so let's keep on doing this.” I always change it up, because the internet is a constantly-changing environment.
XBIZ: As far as solo, girl/girl or boy/girl content, what do your fans seem most engaged by?
MATTO: To be honest, most of my fans prefer my solo stuff. I think a lot of men and women on my page see me as a friend and someone they can relate to, so they like seeing me by myself, doing my thing, if you know what I mean, haha!
XBIZ: Any big career or personal life ambitions for the coming year, in the adult industry and beyond?
MATTO: I want to keep on growing my new platform, Unfiltrd, and bring in more names from the industry. I want this to become a home for adult entertainers, and entertainers in general, so they don't have to fear being de-platformed. I want them to feel secure in the content they are posting, knowing there is a team ready to protect their work from being stolen and leaked. I'm tired of every platform I've ever been on changing their terms and deciding that NSFW content is no longer okay. I'm also publishing my second book later this year and will be doing more television work, so stay tuned for that. As far as my personal life, I hope to find love! It's hard in this industry, but I have faith. I’m just hoping it doesn't happen on a reality TV show this time!
