Austin Spears has made quite a splash in the industry, winning Most Popular Trans Masc Performer at the 5th Annual Pornhub Awards and Pornhub Model of the Year Award at the 2024 Trans Erotica Awards (TEAs). He is as intelligent as he is talented, as empathetic as he is down to earth, and a really kind person. Get to know Austin, his perspective on Trans life, his thoughts on awards, his goals for the future, and more.
First things first, tell us how you got started in the industry.
I entered the industry in 2020, initially creating an OnlyFans to cover the cost of my legal name change—about $500. I never expected to earn more than that, let alone turn it into a career. Looking back, I would have been completely shocked to see where I am today.
It’s funny I say that, because even though I didn’t start porn until I was 28, the dream was there over a decade before I even met a Trans person or knew I was Trans. Growing up, I often dreamed that as an adult, I’d become a Playboy centerfold. I was always a naturally sexual person, and for most of my life, that made me feel isolated from my peers. I remember when I first discovered porn, I suddenly realized that my feelings weren’t weird—what made them seem strange was the context I was in and the people around me. When I had that realization, life got a whole lot easier for me.
Even back then, I had a deep appreciation for porn performers. They were the people I looked up to and saw myself in. Through them, I realized there was space in the world for me to express my sexual nature exactly as I was. So, while I can say I’m surprised to have ended up where I am—especially since I had many other jobs and was on a completely different career path before porn—it has always been a powerful and meaningful red thread throughout my life.
How did you come up with your stage name? Is it a nod to your appreciation for Britney Spears?
At the start of my career, I kept changing my X (then Twitter) username just for fun, cycling through names like “DadtheBrat,” and “SaltyMilkman.” One day, I landed on “Antifabussy,” and people loved it—so I stuck with it.
Then my scene partners started moaning it during scenes—which still makes me laugh—but I figured I’d need a proper name for my upcoming studio work. I chose Austin because it captured my Cali surfer boy vibe, and Spears as a nod to Britney, since I’m a huge fan. At the time, I was rocking my signature blonde locks and thought it’d be funny to brand myself as her lesser-known pornstar step bro—who just so happened to be Trans.
It really suits you, thanks for sharing that! Pornhub works in the larger ecosystem as a discovery platform for fans to find your content. Have you noticed a correlation between video views on our platform and subscribers to your fansites?
Since I use Pornhub so much, performers often ask me how it affects my fansite numbers. Many assume that posting my work "for free" would discourage viewers from subscribing, but I’ve found that to be a common misconception. I track link clicks to see how many people find my OnlyFans through Pornhub, and for me, my Pornhub content significantly expands my reach. I also would never equate posting on Pornhub with "giving away content for free." Besides driving traffic, I also earn ad revenue from each video I upload, making my use of Pornhub a valuable part of my business strategy
We love to hear you busting these myths! You have participated in Model interviews and shared valuable feedback to help us improve the platform. What were your interactions with the Pornhub team like and what did you take away from the feedback session?
I’ve always had great interactions with the Pornhub team, and it means a lot to me that they actively reach out to creators when planning ways to improve the platform. During Model interviews, I was able to share feedback based on my experience as a Trans man using the site, and I genuinely felt that my input was taken to heart rather than dismissed—which, unfortunately, is something Trans men often experience in the industry.
Right now, we know how to market ourselves, but the rest of the industry still isn’t quite sure how to support us. On the most basic level, that can mean some porn sites don’t even know how to categorize us or properly direct viewers to our content. That’s why it meant so much to me that Pornhub invited me to speak directly about these and other issues. My experience with them has always made me feel valued as a creator, and I think they deserve credit for that. I’m not sure viewers realize just how much they involve us in behind-the-scenes decision-making—something I’ve never had another site do.
We appreciate the feedback you gave us! We have to say congrats on winning Most Popular Trans Masc Performer at the 5th Annual Pornhub Awards and Pornhub Model of the Year at the 2024 TEAs. What was your reaction to the news about those wins?
One thing I want to make clear about award shows is that they’re not about winners and losers. The winners and their work aren’t necessarily the best—rather, each award signifies that the winner’s work resonated with a large number of people during that calendar year.
Before I won these awards, my work in porn was an open secret—everyone knew except my parents. Winning didn’t make me more successful than I was before, but it gave me the confidence to finally “come out” to them as an adult performer. The recognition helped me value myself and my work in the industry more, allowing me to stand by it with pride. From the outside, awards might seem like they’re all about fame and glory, but for many performers, they can be a catalyst for self-acceptance and personal growth.
What a beautiful perspective! Let's switch it up a bit. Who are some Trans performers we should have on our radar this year?
Wow! There are so many Trans performers I’m obsessed with right now. Some of my latest T-boy crushes include Joey Michaels, Lil Mutt Boy, and @ftm-latino. And I have to mention Chance Hart—he’s the ultimate T-boy hottie in my book and always creating the most dope content!
Of course, I have to shout out my amazing girlfriend, Gracie Jane—not only an extraordinary performer but also the creator of her must-watch YouTube show, The Gracie Jane Show, and new music under her artist name, Jane’s World!
Other phenomenal Trans performers I’ve had the pleasure of knowing, loving, and working with include my incredible love Carta Monir, Valeria Atreides, Ceyba Sol, and Vanniall.
What are some unique challenges Trans performers face and what are some resources you would recommend to help?
One challenge Trans masc performers face is that we still have to carve out our own spaces in the industry—no one is doing it for us. Even after five years of doing this full-time, I still encounter studios and potential collaborators who question my marketability as a performer.
However, I’ve found that our tight-knit Trans masc sex worker community—despite its small size—is our greatest resource, not a setback. Entering the adult industry as a Trans masc performer means joining a community that’s still in the early stages of forging its own path. Often, when you go looking for resources, what you actually find are the very people you’ll collaborate with to build those resources together.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to other Trans masc creators, ask questions, and have open conversations about income and strategies. Right now, we are the primary drivers of our own growth in the industry. While we may lack widespread infrastructural support, that also means the future of our demographic in the industry is something we have a really hands-on and personalized role in molding.
What do you want folks to know about the Trans community? Are there any challenges or misconceptions you would like to address?
I want people to understand that we are not doing anything different from anyone else. Most Trans people are just trying to live as truthfully and authentically as we can. This is all that is happening. However, it can be hard for many outside our community to grasp this, when our authenticity looks so different from how they might experience their own.
At the end of the day, Trans people aren’t asking anyone to change or question their own sense of self. We’re just here, like everyone else, to live our lives as fully and beautifully as we can. The way we choose to do that might seem unfamiliar to some, but that doesn’t make our freedom dangerous.
You were featured on Hot Haus: Uncut. What was your biggest takeaway from being on the show?
My biggest takeaway from Hot Haus was that I’m really not a big fan of fame-chasing. That might sound odd since working in the adult industry comes with its own version of fame, but I honestly felt uncomfortable seeing how the cash prize and TV debut seemed to change some of my co-stars’ personalities.
I walked away from Hot Haus with something truly invaluable—a tight-knit community of cast and crew who I’m still close with to this day. Unfortunately, not everyone had that same experience. For some, ambition took priority over empathy and consideration for others, creating a distance that still lingers.
I’ve seen it in both reality TV and the porn world—people relentlessly chasing “everything they’ve ever wanted,” sometimes reaching it, sometimes falling short, but often losing pieces of themselves, their community, and the love around them along the way. It’s only when they find themselves truly alone that they realize what they’ve sacrificed.
Speaking of community, we heard you are very involved, supporting your chosen family and often hosting parties at your place. Why is it important to keep a strong sense of community to support and uplift one another?
It’s important to maintain a strong sense of community and uplift one another because life is hard, and despite appearances, many people aren’t doing okay. Some are, some aren’t, and many constantly cycle back and forth between the two. Porn is a job, and sex work is work—but it also exists in a space where money, fame, and visibility collide. Our work is measured in views, celebrated in private, yet publicly shamed in the same breath.
This can be exhausting, which is why we need to support each other beyond the screen. Studio work and collabs might feel like social time because we’re surrounded by people, but at the end of the day, it’s still work. Relying solely on filming for social interaction doesn’t fulfill the deeper need for genuine connection that all performers have.
That’s why I love hosting house parties—they offer something that industry events often don’t. Even when us performers meet up off-camera, it’s usually at red-carpet events where the cameras are still flashing. I think it’s important for us to gather in homes, in private spaces, at events and parties that have nothing to do with networking or advancing our careers—just real, unfiltered time together.
Authenticity and community are vital. Jumping off that point, we heard you love snowboarding! What is your dream mountain to board down?
A dream spot for me would be Niseko in Japan because of the powder. I also really want to spend a week working on tricks at the Trollhaugen rope tow in Wisconsin because I love rails!
Lately, though, I’ve been dreaming more about surf spots, and the wave I’ve been fixated on is The Boom in Nicaragua. I’m hoping to take a month-long solo surf trip out there later this year!
Fun! What other goals would you like to accomplish in the next 1-3 years?
My goals for the next three years include going back to school and finding a way to continue sex work while shifting it into a more part-time endeavor. While I’ve personally experienced—and witnessed in others—how the adult industry can provide both financial stability and freedom, I’ve also seen how its infrastructure often falls short in supporting performers' mental health. The challenges many face aren’t necessarily from doing porn itself, but from navigating the unique kind of fame that comes with this work.
The adult industry has been my home in so many ways, and I know it’s where I belong. While I have no plans to stop performing, I also feel pulled toward something bigger—something beyond just being in front of the camera. That’s why I’m applying to universities, laying the groundwork for something I’m not quite ready to talk about yet—but when the time comes, I hope it will leave a lasting mark.
It has been a taxing year for the Trans community and now more than ever it’s important we uplift one another and remain resilient in the face of adversity. You are not alone, and if you need mental health support, our partner organization, Pineapple Support, offers free support and therapy services for all persons working in the online adult industry—no matter their gender, ethnic origin, social status, age or sexual orientation.
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