From Sitcom Fame to Owning Her Power: Camille Winbush Opens Up About Why She Joined OnlyFans

For many fans who grew up watching The Bernie Mac Show, Camille Winbush will forever be remembered as Vanessa Thomkins — the sharp-tongued, book-smart teen constantly sparring with her Uncle Bernie. But fast forward two decades, and Camille has stepped into her own light — unapologetically, powerfully, and yes, controversially.

Now 34 years old, Camille recently stunned the internet when she confirmed that she had launched her own OnlyFans account. Reactions poured in — some supportive, others harshly critical — prompting the Emmy-nominated actress to speak out and set the record straight.

💬 “From a job 20 years ago when I was 12? Yeah… the checks dried up.”

In a candid interview, Camille addressed the elephant in the room with refreshing honesty and a touch of well-earned sarcasm.

“People that are outside of the acting world have no place to speak on it,” she said. “When people are saying, ‘Oh, those Bernie Mac checks must have dried up,’ I’m like, ‘From a job 20 years ago when I was a 12-year-old? Yeah.’ Like, duh.”

It’s a reality check that many child actors face — once the cameras stop rolling, the money doesn’t just magically keep flowing. Contrary to what some may assume, residual checks from a show like The Bernie Mac Show, which ended in 2006, don’t translate into long-term financial security.

“If I was on Friends making a million dollars an episode, yes, those residual checks would still be very nice,” she explained. “But as time goes on they get smaller and smaller every year. …Twenty years later, those checks are not sustainable for a living.”

👩🏽‍💼 “I’ve worked 9-to-5s. I’ve owned an ice cream shop.”

Far from resting on the laurels of her childhood fame, Camille has quietly hustled over the years. She’s held traditional jobs, and even ran an ice cream shop as a teenager — showing the kind of work ethic that’s rarely associated with former TV stars.

“You can’t count on any job to last or even to book a job,” she said. “So over the years I have done regular 9 to 5s. I owned an ice cream shop for three years when I was a teenager.”

And when the opportunity came to create income on her own terms — through content she controls, in the comfort and safety of her own home — she saw no reason to pass it up.

“But if I can find a way to make enough to buy a home from the comfort and safety of my own living room, why wouldn’t I do that?” she added.

🛑 “I’m not broke. I’m not desperate. And Bernie Mac is not turning in his grave.”

Some critics online, perhaps trying to be funny, suggested that the late Bernie Mac would be disappointed in her choice. Camille shut down that narrative with calm but fierce clarity.

“The idea that I’m broke or desperate for money — it’s false,” she emphasized. “Bernie, God rest his soul, is not turning over in his grave. STOP saying that. Even if meant as a joke, it is far from funny.”

Her words hit hard, especially for those who forget that child stars grow up — into women with their own paths, decisions, and dignity.

💖 Owning Her Journey, Shifting the Narrative

Camille Winbush’s story is not one of scandal, but of self-ownership. She’s been vocal, clear, and emotionally grounded in her reasons for joining OnlyFans. In doing so, she has challenged not just the assumptions about former child actors, but also broader societal judgments around women, independence, and sexuality.

At the heart of it all is a woman who refuses to let others define her — not by her childhood fame, not by the size of her residual checks, and certainly not by outdated expectations.

She is Camille Winbush. She is grown. She is working. And she’s not here for anyone’s shame game.

💬 “I’m a woman making grown decisions for my life. That doesn’t require permission.”