Cubbi Thompson's signature two-tone coiffure is nearly as recognizable as the performer herself. What some might not know, however, is that the look traces back to an unlikely inspiration: eccentric Harry Potter villain Bellatrix Lestrange.
"She inspired the white streak, but then it became a huge part of who I am and what I get recognized for most," she explains. "I don't see myself ever changing it."
Thompson holds the Harry Potter series near and dear to her heart and proudly considers herself a Slytherin, even sporting a serpant tattoo on her forearm. While some fans associate the house with villains, she views it differently.
"People always see Slytherin as bad and evil, but I see them as people who are determined to get shit done and are diehards for what they're passionate about," she says. "We're a misunderstood breed."
As Thompson sits down with XBIZ, it's easy to see why she identifies with those qualities. The conversation quickly jumps from Harry Potter to the finer points of Cancer personality traits and an upcoming trivia night she is clearly excited about.
"I was a fucking nerd in school," Thompson says with a laugh. "Anything that's about history, science or animals, I've got you."
That curiosity extends well beyond trivia. At the beginning of her career, Thompson spent countless hours studying successful creators, analyzing content strategies, audience engagement techniques and emerging trends in search of what she calls "the recipe."
"I've always been someone who studies and analyzes things," she says. "I'll look at something that is doing well and be like, 'Okay, what is the recipe that makes this work?'"
The approach helped her gain traction, but over time, Thompson realized she was spending too much energy trying to fit into an image she thought audiences wanted to see.
"There came a point where I was like, 'Okay, this isn't me. This isn't how I am in real life," she admits.
The breakthrough came when she stopped trying to emulate other creators and started embracing the things that genuinely interest her, from Star Wars to her massive LEGO collection and quirky sense of humor.
"What really popped off my career was when I decided to show how much of a goober I am," she says. "Once I started showing the real me, that's when things really started blowing up."
‘Let's Do It'
Before studio sets became part of her routine, Thompson was perfectly content building her business as a creator because she enjoyed the freedom, independence and flexibility that came with working from home.
In fact, when Brazzers first approached her about shooting, she wasn't interested.
"I was in my bedroom eating Doritos on cam," she recalls. "I was so content being a cam model. You're just in your room, in your house, doing your own thing. It's great."
When the company reached out again, her answer remained the same. Then they asked a third time and by then, curiosity had begun to outweigh comfort.
"I need something exciting in my life," she remembers thinking. "Let's do it."
If Thompson needed reassurance that she had made the right decision, she found it on her very first shoot. Paired with good friend Jennifer White and then-Brazzers contract star Alex Jones, she arrived on set feeling understandably nervous. Instead of being overwhelmed, however, she found herself welcomed by a supportive crew and performers eager to help her succeed.
"Everyone knew it was my first shoot, so they were really accommodating," she recalls. "I literally cried in my Uber when I left. I was so happy that I found what I'm supposed to be doing."
After years of working largely on her own, Thompson discovered that she loved the energy of a busy set, the camaraderie among performers and the opportunity to meet people from every corner of the industry.
A lifelong theater kid, she had always loved stepping into character and exploring personalities far removed from her everyday life. Studio work allowed her to do exactly that. One of her earliest feature projects, "Yes Chef" for Digital Playground, cast her as an aggressive head chef — a role so different from her naturally upbeat personality that even those closest to her were surprised.
"My friends watched the trailer and were like, 'I've never heard you yell before,'" she laughs.
Preparing for the role required plenty of rehearsal. Thompson practiced her lines with friends over FaceTime and repeatedly asked whether she sounded convincing enough.
"I was like, 'Did that seem angry? Did it seem like I was mad at you?' she recalls. "I love transforming into a character that's completely different from me."
That creative variety remains one of her favorite parts of the job. One week she might be filming a narrative-driven feature that demands serious character work. Next, she could be participating in a wildly absurd parody like "Hoes Alone," a playful adult take on the holiday classic "Home Alone."
"I was one of the burglars breaking in and falling on dildos," she says. "It was ridiculous, but so much fun. Every day on set is different and honestly, I love that."
The ‘Cub Cult'
While Thompson was discovering her place in the studio world, another question remained: Would her audience come along for the ride?
Long before mainstream audiences knew her name, Thompson had spent years building a loyal community through live streaming. Some fans have been with her since the earliest days of her camming career, and many still tune in regularly nearly a decade later.
"I have some fans that have been with me since day one of me logging on cam," she says. "I still talk to them every single day."
Their loyalty eventually earned them a nickname: The “Cub Cult.”
"It really is like a cult," Thompson jokes affectionately. "They're diehards."
When Thompson decided to pursue studio work, she made a point of bringing those supporters along for the ride. Before her first mainstream release even debuted, she was already sharing updates with fans and preparing them for the next chapter of her career.
"I told them what was happening before it even happened," she recalls. "I was like, 'Guys, something really big is happening. Things might be changing a little bit, but for the better.'"
The response exceeded her expectations.
"When my first video came out, they hyped me up so much,” she says. “I think that's truly why it did so well, because nobody really knew who I was in the mainstream world yet."
The loyalty of the “Cub Cult” has since helped propel Thompson to multiple fan-voted Creator XMA honors, including Rising Premium Social Media Star in 2021, Best Female Cam Model in 2022 and Creator of the Year in 2025.
"I appreciate them to my core," she says. "They've been with me through everything."
Good Vibes
If there's one thing Thompson enjoys as much as a good laugh, it's making the people around her feel appreciated. Whether she's cheering on fellow performers, spending hours online with her fans or celebrating someone else's success, generosity comes naturally to her.
That may be one reason why one of the most meaningful moments of her career came earlier this year when she found herself on the receiving end of that same energy.
When she accepted the XMA for Best New Performer, her first performer honor after years of success on the creator side of the industry, she looked out into a crowd filled with friends and collaborators and felt the love she so freely gives to others reflected back at her.
"The amount of support I felt on that stage from my fellow performers was unbelievable," she marvels. "I love that we all support each other and lift each other up."
Of course, for someone whose life seems to consist of equal parts love, curiosity and creativity, designing a custom train for the occasion felt perfectly on brand. Thompson accepted her trophy in a sparkling snake-print gown accented by a dramatic custom train she created herself.
"I really made that," she says proudly. "I took a sewing class so I could learn enough to do it."
The project took several weeks and involved plenty of trial and error, including more than a few broken sewing needles along the way. Still, the effort was worthwhile.
"It was really cool being on stage and thinking, 'I made this,'" she says.
The train wasn't an isolated project. Over the years, Thompson has repeatedly found ways to customize her wardrobe through handmade details. For one awards show, she spent five hours individually attaching flower petals to an outfit by hand.
"I've always loved being creative and crafty. I’m always looking for ways to make things more unique," she says.
Inside the Cubbi-Verse
Outside of the “office,” Thompson's interests are every bit as eclectic as her work. A self-described foodie with a weakness for Mexican food, she even keeps a photo album dedicated entirely to memorable burritos.
Animals, however, may be her greatest love. She adores aquariums, sports several shark tattoos and has shared her life with her beloved bearded dragon, Maleficent, since she was 16. Maleficent is so spoiled that Thompson grows strawberries and kale in the garden specifically for her.
The household also includes a Cane Corso and three cats, the last of which Thompson adopted after it showed up in her garage during a rainstorm.
"Right now he’s sleeping upsidedown on my couch and cuddling with my dog, so I guess I have a third cat," she says with a shrug.
For all the adventures and spontaneous detours that fill her life, Thompson approaches the world with an optimism she doesn't take for granted.
"My upbringing was a little rougher than most people, but it gave me an appreciation for life and everything I get to experience," she says. "If something bad happens, I'm like, 'Well, I learned something and I'm extremely grateful for that.'
"I've always been a super happy, positive person, which I love," she adds. "I would never want to be a negative Nancy – life's too short."
