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The Chocolate Health Bar That Got Away: What Cathy Zhao Taught Me About Missed Opportunities

Lila Monroe
Jul 7
4 min read

By Lila Monroe | Staff Writer, Only Fans Insider Magazine

The thing about long weekends is that they blur the line between rest and reflection.

This past Fourth of July was no exception. It started the way these things usually do — with poolside laughter, glossy sunglasses, and lazy Saturday cocktails that felt like liquid versions of freedom. I spent the day with girlfriends who know me too well and not well enough at the same time. You know the kind. The ones who don't ask about your deadlines but will absolutely judge your choice of pool float.

By Sunday, I was horizontal. A full-day binge of Netflix, leftovers, and naps that had no business being as satisfying as they were. Hair unwashed. Phone somewhere under the pillow. No makeup, no expectations.

And then Monday rolled in. Post-holiday limbo. That strange pocket of time where it feels like the entire world is trying to reboot, but the Wi-Fi is still a little slow. I curled up on the couch, opened Instagram, and fell into the rabbit hole we all know too well: one post turned into two, two into fifteen. Then, bam.

There she was.

Meet Cathy Zhao

A quiet scroll brought me to the moment.

Cathy Zhao — or as Instagram knows her, @hellocathyz — appeared in my feed, lounging somewhere bathed in that Southern California kind of light that always looks edited but isn’t.

And she was holding… a chocolate-covered health bar.

Not a pose. Not a “paid partnership” tag. Just Cathy, mid-bite, caught in that carefree, sun-kissed LA glow that made me pause mid-scroll. The kind of bite that feels too chic for protein powder but too indulgent for a cleanse. She wasn’t trying to sell it — which somehow made me want it even more.

I zoomed in. I replayed the reel. I flipped through the comments like a detective looking for clues.

What was she eating?

Where did she get it?

Could I have one… now?

The Search for Something More

I was ready — ready — to drop whatever was left in my checking account to buy that bar. To go full Costco-sample-mode and get a year’s supply. But there was no tag. No brand. No swipe-up. No hyperlink.

Nothing but the bite.

And in that moment, something clicked. Cathy Zhao had influenced me — genuinely. Not in that aspirational way influencers often do, but in a real way. In a I-would-have-purchased-this-right-now kind of way. And yet... there was nowhere to go.

She had the moment.

I had the desire.

But the transaction? The connection? The payoff?

Gone.

Influence Only Works If It Has Somewhere to Go

Cathy isn’t a micro-influencer just starting out. She’s a full-blown digital powerhouse with over 397,000 followers, hundreds of carefully curated posts, and an effortlessly aspirational lifestyle that spans everything from luxury aesthetics to everyday elegance. A USC alum and a SoCal dream in motion, she doesn’t need gimmicks. Her influence is the kind that feels natural. Like the friend you trust with skincare tips and brunch recs.

But even Cathy — with her following and her reach — left money on the table. Maybe unintentionally. Maybe because the moment was meant to be casual. But it got me thinking about how many creators, especially those on OnlyFans, are constantly doing the same thing.

How many times are fans ready to buy, and there’s nowhere to click?

What Brands Still Don’t Get

Here’s the truth: OnlyFans influencers aren’t just another category of creators. They’re a movement.

They’ve taken influence out of the realm of wishy-washy likes and into real transactional loyalty. These are creators with fan bases that pay — every month — to stay connected. That’s a level of engagement that most traditional influencers would kill for.

And yet, brands continue to ignore them.

Why?

Because of stigma. Because of outdated thinking. Because most brand executives still picture OnlyFans as some kind of underground club rather than what it really is — one of the most influential, intimate, and community-driven platforms on the internet today.

And while those brands stay asleep at the wheel, moments like Cathy’s chocolate bar are happening every day — unseen, unmonetized, and wasted.

This Is Where Only Fans Insider Magazine Comes In

When I joined Only Fans Insider Magazine, I didn’t just want to write pretty words and profile pretty people. I came here to build bridges — between creators and brands, between art and commerce, between influence and action.

What we’re building here at OFI isn’t just editorial fluff. It’s infrastructure.

It’s strategy.

It’s a platform that gives creators the credibility they deserve — and the press clips to prove it.

Creators can use OFI to:

Attract serious brand partnerships by showcasing their audience and reach

Promote current collabs through published interviews and lifestyle features

Position themselves as thought leaders and trendsetters in their niche

Imagine Cathy had written a companion piece for the magazine, titled something like “My Go-To Healthy Snack Between Shoots”. She could’ve featured the health bar brand, included a quote about wellness, dropped a promo code, and — boom — turned a moment into money.

Let’s Start Talking

Here’s what I want:

If you’re a brand, tell me — what’s holding you back from partnering with OnlyFans influencers? Is it fear? Misunderstanding? Or do you just not know where to start?

If you’re an OnlyFans influencer, what would help you land that next big collaboration? More visibility? Better content strategy? Industry support?

Because this isn’t just about Cathy or a chocolate bar.

It’s about creators being seen — not just as content, but as commerce.

So let’s talk. Drop your thoughts in the comments.

DM me. Email me. Send a carrier pigeon if that’s your vibe.

Because the next time I see a chocolate health bar in a post, I want to do more than crave it.

I want to buy it.

And maybe, just maybe, I’ll write about it too.

—Lila Monroe