From Zero to AI Star: My Journey Creating a Virtual Influencer

[Shayna123]

From Zero to AI Star: My Journey Creating a Virtual Influencer

Hey everyone, first of all i want to say huge Thank you to alot of other Creators in this Forum. You all helped me alot so far x3.
I wanted to share my experience building and growing a fully AIgenerated influencer from scratch, including what worked, what failed, and what I learned along the way. Im currently 1 Months fully locked in and made already some money. I started this porject out of curiosity, but quickly started enjoying the grow on IG and saw the potential about money making in it.
Im far away from beeing an expert, just a guy trying some stuff on the Internet ... right now wrting this guide dealing with the punishment IG gave me and i still dont know the reason for it haha, maybe there are some people in this forum to help each other out !


Why I Started This Journey

I was always fascinated by one question:
Why are so many men willing to spend money on OnlyFans content?
It seemed almost too easy to make money there, but there was one problem: I’m a guy, and I obviously couldn’t just start posting tit pics.

That’s when I discovered the power of AI.

With the right tools, I realized I could create a virtual girl who looked real enough to pass, and not just visually. What really made the difference was understanding the psychology behind it.
What kind of emotions drive men to spend? What words, what vibe, what behavior actually converts?
At first, it was just an experiment. But very quickly I saw the massive potential.
This wasn’t just about images, this was a full-blown social dynamic you could simulate and monetize.


The plan

The Basic Strategy: Funnel from Instagram to Fanvue​

The main plan was simple:
Use Instagram to attract attention → lead users through a subtle funnel → convert them into paying subscribers on Fanvue.
Each stage plays a different role in the system, from content creation to emotional connection to monetization.

Content Creation: Building a Consistent AI Girl​

I tried several AI image generation platforms, but I was constantly frustrated. Either the results looked too fake, or I had no real creative control. Most tools felt like black boxes.
Then I found ComfyUI, and it changed everything.
It’s open-source, modular, and gives you full control over prompts, lighting, pose, style, everything.
Plus, it allows for NSFW content, which becomes crucial later when monetizing on Fanvue.

But the hardest part?
Keeping the character consistent across every image and video same face, same body, same vibe. If you want to sell the illusion of a real person, you can’t afford visual inconsistencies.
So I bought a guide and spent about two weeks diving deep into ComfyUI, learning how to generate consistent, high-quality output every time. It was worth every minute.

Instagram Growth: Play the Long Game​

On Instagram, the most important rule is: engagement, engagement, engagement but in a smart way.
I focused on high-quality visuals, soft emotional tone, and a cozy aesthetic. But I kept my interactions minimal in the beginning to avoid looking spammy and triggering any reach penalties.
It’s a slow build, but it works if you stay consistent and make your character feel real.

Chatting & Psychology: The Key to Conversions​

Once someone converts from Instagram to Fanvue, the real work begins:
Chatting.
If you want to maximize revenue, you need to understand human psychology — what makes someone stay, spend, and feel emotionally connected. That’s where most of the profit is hidden.
Right now, I’ll admit I’m still a total beginner at this part. My conversion rate could be way higher.
That’s why I started working closely with an experienced OnlyFans chatter to learn how to build relationships, sell emotional fantasies, and offer high-ticket custom packages the right way.
It’s not just chatting it’s sales disguised as intimacy.


Challenges I Faced so far haha

• Instagram shadowban
• Low conversion rate from Instagram to Fanvue
• Unrealistic and inconsistent images
• Blurry or mismatched backgrounds
• Poor AI video quality
• Inconsistent character face/body
• Automation spam issues
• Weak or unoptimized Instagram bio
• Forbidden or shadowbanned hashtags
• Over-engaging and triggering reach limits
• Fanvue verification and payout delays
• Fanvue content flags and moderation issues

and aloooooooooot more.

Monetization & Results
ING GROW/LinkTree Satistics

Fanvue


I’ll try to post regular updates here to keep you all in the loop.
If you have any questions,even though I’m still figuring a lot of this out myself feel free to drop them. I’ll do my best to help where I can.

Just trying to give something back to the community


Big shoutout to @Plastic Bowl, @Ghost AI OFM, @Zolalghauri and others who inspired and helped me along the way appreciate you all! Not sure if the Tag works... i hope so haha


Currently facing a small Reach Kill from ING, didnt figured it out yet how to deal with it to get normal Views Back. Im open for Ideas and would love to hear what you guys did to escape Shadowban!!!!

​

 

[oluwanifemijacob22]

Following

 

[Spicy Chromosomes]

Good luck with your journey, good to see that you are taking action from post 1

 

[Windbreaker16]

to have that many followers right off the bat is very good, meaning your IG content game is on point that viewers are curious, but that's only 10-20% of the game, the monetization within fanvue is the real deal, wish u luck n success, please keep us updated !

 

[washingtondc]

It's really a great start and keep sharing your success with us.

 

[Shayna123]

UPDATE​

INFO: I do read all private messages — but if you have questions that could be useful for everyone, please post them here in the thread so I can answer publicly and others can benefit from it too.

Tough Days & Instagram Reach Drop​

About a week and a half ago, my account got hit with a massive reach drop — basically a “shadowban.” My posts suddenly stopped appearing in Explore and Reels tabs, and engagement dropped sharply.


After digging into it, I discovered that a few of the hashtags I had been using were actually on Instagram’s “banned” list. I made some changes right away:

• Stopped using suspicious hashtags
• Paused heavy engagement for a few days
• Switched up my chat game
• Reviewed my content to check for any possible Terms of Service violations

These are just a few of the changes I made — in reality, I tested a lot of different tweaks and adjustments to figure out what might be causing the drop.


I let the account rest for a short time, then slowly started posting again. The good news? My reach is showing signs of recovery! I can see it in key metrics like Explore impressions and Reels performance.


Instagram never tells you the exact reason for these drops, so a lot of it is trial and error. But the journey continues — I’m not giving up.

---

Fanvue Scare​

I also had a little “oops” moment on Fanvue that almost got me into trouble, but luckily I managed to sort it out with their support team via chat and email. Crisis averted — thank God!

---

New Tools & Experiments​

Lately I’ve been experimenting with new tools and funnels. One example: testing ManyChat for automating comments and replies. Still figuring out if it’s truly profitable and worth the time.


On top of that, I had some valuable conversations with real influencer/OF agency managers. They gave me key tips on improving my chat strategy to boost conversion rates.

---

Expanding Platforms​

I signed up on a few other platforms to cross-post content and drive more traffic back to my main hub: Instagram. More entry points = more potential followers.

---

Money Update​

• +2 new subs
• A few smaller nude package sales
• Follower growth slowed down because of the Instagram issues, but in the past few days, things are starting to pick up again.

---

Even with all these setbacks and issues, I’m actually more motivated than ever. If anything, these challenges have only made me hungrier to push harder — I’m determined to win the AI influencer game.

​

• Good luck with your journey, good to see that you are taking action from post 1

• Thank you very much, yeah im trying again to get rich online haha but this time it feels like it could be possible!
  

  to have that many followers right off the bat is very good, meaning your IG content game is on point that viewers are curious, but that's only 10-20% of the game, the monetization within fanvue is the real deal, wish u luck n success, please keep us updated !

• Yes i realised it, that it the hard part actually, Winning their Trust and try to convert followers into paying customers! But im on a good way because i talked alot with OF Creators about chatting! Thank you for your comment!
  

  It's really a great start and keep sharing your success with us.

  Thank you ! Im super motivated and keep on the Grind!

 

[ShadowOptimizer]

Impressive progress on your AI influencer path!
Blending creativity with tech is powerful, and it sounds like you’re building something that truly stands out. The mix of full-time hustle and pet projects shows dedication—those little side ideas often turn into unexpected breakthroughs.
Keep refining your style, engaging with your audience, and experimenting. That’s exactly how notable creators get ahead.

 

[oluwanifemijacob22]

UPDATE​

INFO: I do read all private messages — but if you have questions that could be useful for everyone, please post them here in the thread so I can answer publicly and others can benefit from it too.

Tough Days & Instagram Reach Drop​

About a week and a half ago, my account got hit with a massive reach drop — basically a “shadowban.” My posts suddenly stopped appearing in Explore and Reels tabs, and engagement dropped sharply.


After digging into it, I discovered that a few of the hashtags I had been using were actually on Instagram’s “banned” list. I made some changes right away:

• Stopped using suspicious hashtags
• Paused heavy engagement for a few days
• Switched up my chat game
• Reviewed my content to check for any possible Terms of Service violations

These are just a few of the changes I made — in reality, I tested a lot of different tweaks and adjustments to figure out what might be causing the drop.


I let the account rest for a short time, then slowly started posting again. The good news? My reach is showing signs of recovery! I can see it in key metrics like Explore impressions and Reels performance.


Instagram never tells you the exact reason for these drops, so a lot of it is trial and error. But the journey continues — I’m not giving up.

---

Fanvue Scare​

I also had a little “oops” moment on Fanvue that almost got me into trouble, but luckily I managed to sort it out with their support team via chat and email. Crisis averted — thank God!

---

New Tools & Experiments​

Lately I’ve been experimenting with new tools and funnels. One example: testing ManyChat for automating comments and replies. Still figuring out if it’s truly profitable and worth the time.


On top of that, I had some valuable conversations with real influencer/OF agency managers. They gave me key tips on improving my chat strategy to boost conversion rates.

---

Expanding Platforms​

I signed up on a few other platforms to cross-post content and drive more traffic back to my main hub: Instagram. More entry points = more potential followers.

---

Money Update​

• +2 new subs
• A few smaller nude package sales
• Follower growth slowed down because of the Instagram issues, but in the past few days, things are starting to pick up again.

---

Even with all these setbacks and issues, I’m actually more motivated than ever. If anything, these challenges have only made me hungrier to push harder — I’m determined to win the AI influencer game.

​

Keep going, also on a similar path

 

[belovsashaaa]

I'd say try running more Instagram accounts (across a few devices ) you've already realised it takes some time to get the accounts going better to be growing more accounts.

When you reach a point you can't do everything yourself, you can hire a VA to help you with the content creation/editing etc

Good luck, you are on the right track!

 

[Shayna123]

Big Update!!!​

The last two weeks have been a real battle – I was stuck in a shadowban for quite a while, which completely slowed down my growth. But now I’m finally out of it, and I think (or at least I believe ) that I’ve started to really understand how the algorithm works.

Instagram Growth​

• Followers went from ~1,200 to over 2,600 in just two weeks.
• Daily reach exploded – at the beginning around 2–3k, now up to 179k in a single day.
• One Reel completely took off (screenshot below) → 160k+ views, 2,100 likes and 211 comments.
• 

TikTok​

• At first I had the same struggles as on IG – low reach, slow growth.
• But this week one of my videos went completely viral (screenshot below).
• Thanks to that boost, I just unlocked the ability to put my link in bio, which is huge for funneling traffic to Fanvue.

Traffic Funnel​

• Beacon/Linktree clicks are rising fast: from just a handful per day to over 400+ on peak days.
• Click-through rate is consistently between 60–90%, which shows the content is pulling people into the funnel.

Fanvue​

• A few new subs joined since the last update.
• But honestly, the biggest challenge right now is conversion: I’m gaining a lot of followers, but only a small fraction is turning into paying customers so far.

Main Takeaway
Consistency is key. It’s not just about Instagram – the same applies to TikTok, Linktree, and especially Fanvue. Keep testing small changes and track how they perform. For example: change the text or the preview image in your Linktree and see how it impacts your conversion rate. Over time, these small tweaks can make a huge difference.

Content & Workflow​

• Over the past two weeks I’ve focused heavily on improving realism. I started testing different tools and setups, and the key takeaway is: the more believable the content looks, the better it performs.
• I’ve also added more content on Fanvue. In my opinion, it’s important to build up a proper portfolio before launching the account publicly – that way new subs instantly see real value.
• My current strategy: Reels for reach, photos for trust. Reels are what push the growth on Instagram/TikTok, but photos create the feeling of authenticity that actually makes people follow and stick around.
• I tested several new tools along the way (for example, voice-generation for more immersive content). At the same time I dropped others – it’s basically a constant trial & error process to see what actually works.
• The biggest bottleneck is still time: creating high-quality, especially NSFW content, takes way too long. Finding a way to streamline and speed up that workflow is my next priority.

Marketing & Growth Strategies​

• In the beginning, engagement was crucial – commenting, interacting, and staying active. But now I feel like I’ve reached a stage where I can rely more on pure content performance. Reels alone are currently bringing in enough new followers per day, so the need for heavy engagement has dropped significantly.
• Regarding Fanvue: I’ve tested different approaches, but mass messages are not the way for me. At least on Instagram they didn’t deliver good results. On Fanvue, follow-ups and personal touches seem to work very differently, and I’m still experimenting with what brings the best outcome there.

Monetization
I’ll keep this part for the next update. Right now I still have a lot to learn and test when it comes to pricing strategies, retention, and conversion. I don’t want to give half-baked insights yet – so the monetization deep dive will follow once I have clearer data to share.

Challenges & Learnings​

• One of the biggest problems I’ve faced is the social aspect: building real connections with people through chatting. Since English isn’t my first language, it’s sometimes hard to find the right words to bond with followers and eventually convert them into paying fans. The good news: it’s slowly getting better every week as I keep practicing and writing more.
• To improve faster, I even bought another guide focused on IG growth and especially chatting – because I realized this is my weakest point right now.
• Another key learning: taking breaks when my head is fried from all the work. It sounds simple, but stepping away actually helps me stay consistent in the long run.
• If I could restart, I’d definitely spend more time up front defining my character in every detail (who she is, what she stands for, what makes her unique). That foundation is crucial.
• My current biggest bottleneck is time management. That’s why from next week on I’ll start structuring my days more strictly – e.g. Monday for content creation, Tuesday for planning, Wednesday for engagement, etc.

Final Thoughts

A big thank you to everyone for all the kind messages I’ve received over the past weeks. One of the biggest lessons so far has been realizing how important it is to be connected and in exchange with others. Knowledge really is power – and if you surround yourself with dedicated people, you’ll reach your goals so much faster, because everyone brings their own learnings to the table.

So let’s connect:

• If you have questions, feel free to drop them here in the thread – I’ll make sure to answer.
• And if you want to connect more directly, just send me a private message here with your Telegram and we can stay in touch.

Impressive progress on your AI influencer path!
Blending creativity with tech is powerful, and it sounds like you’re building something that truly stands out. The mix of full-time hustle and pet projects shows dedication—those little side ideas often turn into unexpected breakthroughs.
Keep refining your style, engaging with your audience, and experimenting. That’s exactly how notable creators get ahead.

Thank you so much for your comment , yeah it could be very lucrative but its not as easy as i thought! Its not just making a few pictures and upload them and then "where lambo"?
I keep on the grind!

Keep going, also on a similar path

Yes sir!! Maybe we could connect and exchange some knowledge if you are interested!

I'd say try running more Instagram accounts (across a few devices ) you've already realised it takes some time to get the accounts going better to be growing more accounts.

When you reach a point you can't do everything yourself, you can hire a VA to help you with the content creation/editing etc

Good luck, you are on the right track!

Wow, thank you so much for your tip! Before I even started building my model, I actually read through your whole journey and it’s been a huge motivation for me. Really appreciate the time and all the value you’ve shared with us here.

Yes, I’ve noticed a lot of creators doing exactly that – running multiple accounts and recycling the same videos with small changes (crop, edits, etc.) to give them a fresh push. Makes total sense.

I’d really love to get in touch with you – I have 1–2 specific questions where I’m stuck right now. Of course, I don’t want to bother you, but if you’re open for it, that would mean a lot to me!

 

[LinkZenith]

Awesome journey!
Keep experimenting and sharing!

 

[Shayna123]

Awesome journey!
Keep experimenting and sharing!

Thank you! I keep updating haha

 

[Smartlg]

great thread, thanks for sharing your journey. Would uou mind sharing the IG of your virtual influencer? I’d love to see what it looks like.

 

[Shayna123]

great thread, thanks for sharing your journey. Would uou mind sharing the IG of your virtual influencer? I’d love to see what it looks like.

Hey nice to see that it helps you atleast a little bit! No sorry i will not show... :/ but im in the cozy girl niche

 

[dataholic__]

Following, if I understand correctly, you are chatting yourself with the subs, why not use AI for that ? basically give it a context before calling the API like they do in character.ai for example ?

 

[Shayna123]

Following, if I understand correctly, you are chatting yourself with the subs, why not use AI for that ? basically give it a context before calling the API like they do in character.ai for example ?

For now im chatting for myself but i want to outsource this. AI isnt good enough yet for my opinion to build real relationships with the customers so they convert in high Tier Customers.

If you got any good AI for doing the chatting i would love to hear about it and even pay better!

 

[peux pas]

idk how you got that many followers that fast but cool

i think certain types of hot girls performs better. my page is not skinny slim girls that weigh 100 pounds. those are the type of girls that get massive reach and interest, slim girl. i don't personally like that so it's not my niche

but anyway, it seems you mentioned you are not getting any sales even though your reach is huge? that's a problem. reach is useless without sales

even for me, if instagram sent me 100k views to my most recent pictures, if no sales come from that, i do not give a fuck. i would rather get 100 views and get 1 sale per 100. honestly i do not even give fuck if my follower count is below 1000 (it's around 140). sales is the only thing that matters

and lastly, are you chatting with horny guys?

this is another problem i don't like about this industry. my page is not some hot girl. that is what everyone does, they pretend to be a hot girl and chat with horny guys that have their dick in their hands. so you are sending them messages, getting them harder and hornier as they are jerking off to what you messsage them

i just can't do something like this. it is just way too much for me. i'm straight male, i do not want to sext and text horny pictures to men, ew. nasty

my page is simply a niche porn page. subscription cost of $20-30 per month, everything on wall is free. i do not sell pay per message. nor do i send DMs and sext. just porn pics on the wall

my way definitely does not make the most money. i guarantee you that you will make more money than me with your page

but for me, my page i actually like it. it may sound weird in way, but i am proud of my page and the content. i believe this is very good content. the bonus for me is finding 100 like minded men like me that have similar interest in hot girls, that would be the best thing that could happen for me and i'd be okay with that

 

[Ohad179]

Really enjoyed reading this, man.
Massive respect for sharing your journey so openly – it's not every day someone breaks things down this transparently. The level of detail, honesty, and results is super inspiring.


I'm a digital marketer with a few years of experience, and just recently started exploring the virtual influencer + AI content game myself. Still early, but the potential is crazy.


I actually had an IG account live until a week ago — got great engagement (likes, DMs, followers coming in daily), but unfortunately it got banned… probably because I wasn’t using proxies and was doing too many actions too fast (follows/comments). Lesson learned the hard way.


Would love to exchange ideas and maybe get your Telegram if you're open to it – feels like we could both learn a lot from each other.

 

[kenobeen]

perfect details and data sharing. well played man.

 

[Shayna123]

idk how you got that many followers that fast but cool

i think certain types of hot girls performs better. my page is not skinny slim girls that weigh 100 pounds. those are the type of girls that get massive reach and interest, slim girl. i don't personally like that so it's not my niche

but anyway, it seems you mentioned you are not getting any sales even though your reach is huge? that's a problem. reach is useless without sales

even for me, if instagram sent me 100k views to my most recent pictures, if no sales come from that, i do not give a fuck. i would rather get 100 views and get 1 sale per 100. honestly i do not even give fuck if my follower count is below 1000 (it's around 140). sales is the only thing that matters

and lastly, are you chatting with horny guys?

this is another problem i don't like about this industry. my page is not some hot girl. that is what everyone does, they pretend to be a hot girl and chat with horny guys that have their dick in their hands. so you are sending them messages, getting them harder and hornier as they are jerking off to what you messsage them

i just can't do something like this. it is just way too much for me. i'm straight male, i do not want to sext and text horny pictures to men, ew. nasty

my page is simply a niche porn page. subscription cost of $20-30 per month, everything on wall is free. i do not sell pay per message. nor do i send DMs and sext. just porn pics on the wall

my way definitely does not make the most money. i guarantee you that you will make more money than me with your page

but for me, my page i actually like it. it may sound weird in way, but i am proud of my page and the content. i believe this is very good content. the bonus for me is finding 100 like minded men like me that have similar interest in hot girls, that would be the best thing that could happen for me and i'd be okay with that

Yeah i also realised that accounts which are super Niche are getting HUGE attention!

Yeah of course im chatting with old men. I finally made now scripts ready for making a whole Sell Process and its working way better now!

Nice! If you are happy with your page thats all what it takes Good luck further with your journey!