Tyler Wu joined the Model Program a little over a year ago and has already snatched a spot in the top 10 on Pornhub Gay, and if you've taken a gander at his content, then you know why! So we decided to chat with Tyler and ask him how he went from being a professional figure skater to a pro in front and behind the camera, what inspires him, and what he's learned about himself in the last year.
How did you get started in the industry? How long have you been in it and what influenced you to join?
I started in the summer of 2018. I had just finished university where I studied French and business. I’m also a professional ice skater, and I had a contract lined up that September after my studies were done. So I had an entire summer free. Since I wasn’t studying or anything, I got a little curious about the industry and joined Chaturbate and JustForFans for a little extra pocket money. Even when I started performing on ice, I kept my fan pages since I still had a lot of free time.
When I went to Germany on another ice skating contract, I met a guy who I started filming with and he introduced me to OnlyFans. Then COVID hit and I was stuck at home all the time with no skating shows and nothing to do. So I spent my weekends on Chaturbate, kept my OnlyFans going, grew my Twitter following, and evolved my content. I got into videography and lighting, worked on my cinematography skills, and eventually started uploading my content onto Pornhub.
How would you describe your content?
When I first started, I noticed that many people on OnlyFans just had their phone set up in the corner of a room and that would be it. So I figured, if I wanted to stand out and get people to follow me, I was going to have to do something different. Now that my content has evolved, I would describe it as a form of storytelling. However, the content also depends on who you’re filming with and their vibe. I’m travelling around a lot right now, so I’m meeting different kinds of people with different energies and interests, and I like to feed off that. The setting and lighting changes often as well, so I think offering this kind of diversity has helped me grow my fanbase.
Courtesy of Tyler Wu
You signed up for the Model Program a little over a year ago and you’re already ranked in the top 10 on Pornhub Gay. What would you accredit your success to?
I would say it’s my creativity and my willingness to try anything. Even if I film something that doesn’t turn out to be exactly what I thought, sometimes it would surprise me and work out, and other times it wasn’t good enough to share. I don’t think I’m the best videographer or the best Model out there, but I’m not scared to try something different. It’s important to be yourself and figure out what interests you. I realized that I’m really interested in videography, lighting, and color grading, so I put a lot of time and effort into developing those skills.
I find that what people enjoy about my content is my creativity combined with genuine passion and eroticism. We all love art and we all love sex; for me it’s the most human of combinations and I am so grateful to have an outlet to share this side of me. I want to be able to look back at my content with fond memories and be proud to say, "I made that."
Can you tell us something about yourself your fans would be surprised to learn?
This may not be surprising, but it is something that I haven’t shared with the world. I look up to my dad a lot. My parents moved to the UK before I was born. They started from zero and didn’t speak the language. They left well-paid government jobs in Hong Kong due political uncertainty at the time.
My dad’s paternal grandfather was chairman of commerce in a French colonial municipality in China and thus wealthy, but two world wars and an alcoholic father later, their fortune disappeared. He therefore did not have a great upbringing and left home at 14 and has been self-sufficient ever since, balancing school and work. Despite this, he has never been one to complain and always made the best use of whatever resources he had available.
He worked many years for less pay than his British-born colleagues but did more, as well as study for professional qualifications in his field. In doing so, he gained skills and a good reputation and left the company he worked for, starting his own business on a mountain of credit card debt. We are lucky enough to say it was a success, and I would not be who I am today if it were not for these sacrifices and risks.
I look back on his struggles, work ethic and attitude toward life, and he is undoubtedly my biggest inspiration. It’s hard to appreciate your parents as a kid, but as I grew up, I realized that their example is the most valuable thing that they could have ever given me.
Courtesy of Tyler Wu
Do you now do this full time or is still a side passion project?
It’s now my full-time job now. I was offered another skating contract not too long ago, but this is a better-paying industry, especially if you put in the work. You’re also self-employed if you start your own business and brand. You get what you put into it. However, I would like to diversify. I’m dabbling with production and working on a website right now.
Why the stage name “Tyler Wu?”
When I was a kid, I thought “Tyler” was the coolest name ever, I don’t know why. And as for “Wu,” I just looked for the most generic Chinese-sounding name that was one syllable so people could easily remember.
What have you learned about yourself since joining the industry?
I realized I’m not as timid as I thought I was. If you asked me two years ago if I would have even considered doing this, I would have thought it was crazy. However, I realized I’m pretty self-sufficient and if I need to get something done, I can do it. It’s about having this trust in yourself. I think having this following and being able to make a living off this kind of work gives you the confidence to help you realize that you can do it. It’s like having that little kick of support.
Courtesy of Tyler Wu
Would you say “Tyler Wu” is a persona you put on when you’re in front of the camera?
I fee like it’s another side of me that was untapped and has developed through this kind of work. I think it’s a lot easier to be yourself or another version of yourself in this industry, especially if you’re doing this 24/7 because you’re also on social media promoting your content and brand. So it’s definitely easier to be yourself.
What kind of advice can you offer other men who are thinking of joining the adult industry?
Don’t try and copy someone else just because they have a big following. Remember, there will always be someone that identifies with you and enjoys your content. Even if you only have 10,000 followers but they’re all really invested in you, that’s more important than having 10 million followers who don’t care and don’t trust you.
How has your perception of the industry changed since joining?
I didn’t know how much work goes into it. Some people do very well because they’re young and good looking. So I try and explain that if only they put a little more work into it and diversify their content, they can do so much better. It’s not just about being pretty in front of the camera.
Follow Tyler Wu on Twitter and Instagram for photos and video updates
Twitter @tylerwu_97
IG @tylerwuhoo/
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