Regardless of which platforms or cam networks a performer chooses to perform on, standing out from the crowd and building an audience is a challenge. And when the network is as packed with stars and well-established broadcasters as Chaturbate, the challenge is even greater.

YNOT recently sat down with Chaturbate broadcaster Asiri Ocean to get her perspective on what it takes for a camgirl to stand out from the crowd. The answer, it unsurprisingly turns out, includes essentially the same traits one needs to succeed in just about any other line of work—because it involves a lot of hard work and perseverance to go along with the creativity, accessibility and authenticity it takes to connect with fans.

YNOT: Please begin by telling us about yourself as a camgirl.

Asiri Ocean: As a camgirl I love having the opportunity to connect with viewers all over the world. It’s amazing to have such a large variety of culture and opinions come together. I love the conversations we have, as well as sharing my life with my viewers. I thrive on the attention and social enrichment it provides.

YNOT: How and why did you get into the profession, and how has your career progressed since then?

Asiri: I got into the profession by chance; I saw a Craigslist listing for online work at home. I can’t remember which site it was, but it didn’t seem legitimate. While that site didn’t seem quite right it sparked my interest and I began researching the profession. After some research, I decided to try Streamate. While I was still using Streamate I happened upon Chaturbate and it seemed more lively, so I switched.

YNOT: How do you set yourself apart from the competition?

Asiri: I don’t really see myself in competition with other cam models. I see them more like colleagues or co-workers. I believe that personality is very important to some viewers. No one can be you except you.

YNOT: You have risen to prominence as a successful camgirl. What are the secrets of your success? Why do people watch you rather than thousands of other camgirls?

Asiri: I struggled for a very long time. My prominence has come from persistence, consistency and honesty. I believe my chat room has a lot of interesting fun people in it and that’s why a lot of people choose to entertain themselves with it. We have conversations about anything and everything, it keeps it interesting and fun.

YNOT: What are some of the strange/funny things that have happened to you during the course of your career?

Asiri: I’ve turned a dildo into a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, blended a chicken dinner, covered my body in glitter, fucked a trashcan, had a microscopy show where we live streamed my microscope. I’ve showed my viewers what live water bears (tardigrade) look like, I’ve done paintings, I’ve put on all my scuba diving gear and done a BJ tease, worn a green zentai suit and turned my body into a green screen and we pretended we were pirates for a day.

YNOT: Has the pandemic shutdown been good for your business?

Asiri: I feel that there is more viewership.

YNOT: How has being a camgirl affected the rest of your life?

Asiri: It has given me the opportunity to meet all kinds of different people. I have become way more open minded and tolerant of a person. Camming has given me a unique perspective of the world and human psychology. I’ve made some amazing friends.

YNOT: What are your future plans?

Asiri: I don’t have any plans to stop camming. I plan on incorporating more of my other hobbies into camming, i.e. woodwork, paint, guitar, digital art.

YNOT: What advice would you have for aspiring camgirls?

Asiri: I’d advise aspiring camgirls to do lots of research before entering the industry. They also need to realize that online sex work is something that can stay with them forever. It’s also important to consider the impact it can have with their relationships with family and friends. Boundaries are also imperative to have; always respect yourself and don’t waste your time on people who don’t.

For every one person who doesn’t like you there are many who do. Be consistent; camming is a job. Good work ethic is just as important in this industry as any other. Get tax help or educate yourself on taxes – and be wary of scams.