The Rub PR Is on Fire: Another Win for Erika Icon at the Urban X Awards

By Lila Monroe – Only Fans Insider Magazine

There are weeks when the industry feels quiet, predictable, even cyclical—and then there are weeks when one name seems to be everywhere, on everyone’s lips, collecting trophy after trophy like it’s second nature. Right now, that name is The Rub PR.

Fresh off their ASN Award win and Hall of Fame induction earlier this year, Erika Icon and her team have set the industry ablaze again, winning Most Popular Adult PR Agency at the 2025 Urban X Awards.

When I saw the press release pop into my inbox, I actually laughed out loud—not because it was surprising, but because it was so fitting. Erika Icon is having what I can only describe as a “main character moment.” She’s the one rewriting the plot, and the rest of us are just lucky enough to witness it.

A Night at the Urban X Awards

The Urban X Awards are always a spectacle: the glamour of a Hollywood red carpet, the unfiltered energy of adult entertainment, and the kind of authenticity you rarely see at traditional awards shows. Held at the Regent Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, this year’s ceremony was no different. Hosted by Isiah Maxwell, Beca Barbie, and Ebony Mystique, the evening had a rhythm that blended music, laughter, recognition, and community.

And then came the moment: Most Popular Adult PR Agency.

When The Rub PR’s name was announced, the theater erupted. You could feel the collective exhale of gratitude and respect from an industry that has leaned on Erika Icon’s work, her persistence, and her fierce ability to bring creators and companies into the mainstream spotlight.

Erika accepted with grace, and in true Erika fashion, she redirected the spotlight back to her community:

“We’re truly honored to have won a second time. This award was voted on by the industry and beyond, so it means a lot to us. Even the fans were voting for us, which was really amazing. The red X trophy is stunning. Thank you, Giana, for another great show and the beautiful trophy.”

Connecting the Dots: Why Ryder Was Right

Earlier today, my colleague Ryder Vale published an editorial titled, “The Rub PR’s Big Night: Why Erika Icon’s Win Matters for the Industry.” His piece dove into the cultural significance of Erika’s work—the way she makes PR not just a service, but a bridge. And reading it, I couldn’t help but nod along.

Ryder’s perspective is that Erika isn’t just elevating her clients—she’s elevating the industry’s image itself. And tonight’s win? It proves his point. Twice over.

More Than Just Hype

What I love most about Erika’s story is how much it defies stereotypes. Too often, when people think about PR in adult entertainment, they assume it’s about spin or spectacle. But The Rub PR is about substance.

Erika’s background isn’t the cliché rise from the underground; it’s a deliberate career built on creativity, strategy, and grit. She’s placed her clients in Cosmo, Vice, Playboy, and even The Wall Street Journal. She’s orchestrated crossovers into mainstream television and movies. She’s done it all while keeping her agency boutique, personal, and unapologetically loyal to the people she represents.

Winning “Most Popular Adult PR Agency” isn’t just about being known. It’s about being trusted. And in this industry, trust is worth more than any trophy.

Why This Fire Matters

I’ll be honest with you—when I started at Only Fans Insider Magazine, I thought “PR” was a side character in the larger story of creators and platforms. But the more I’ve watched Erika Icon and The Rub PR work, the more I realize PR is often the script itself. Without visibility, without press, without someone fighting to normalize creators in mainstream conversations, even the most talented individuals risk being erased by stigma.

And here’s where I want to say something personal: I admire Erika not just for her résumé, but for her relentlessness. She’s feisty. She’s fierce. She’s unapologetically East Coast in the way she fights for her clients. And as a woman navigating the journalism side of this industry, I find her a mirror of what I aspire to be: someone who makes no apologies for doing her work well and making space for others.

This latest win isn’t just another feather in her cap—it’s a signal to the industry that PR done right changes everything. It validates careers. It shapes legacies. It ensures creators don’t just trend for a week—they get remembered for decades.

The Rub PR Is on Fire—And That’s a Good Thing

So yes, Erika Icon and The Rub PR are on fire. And if you ask me, it’s a fire the industry desperately needs—one that burns down stigma, lights up visibility, and keeps creators warm in an often cold and dismissive mainstream.

If Ryder called Erika’s earlier victory “big,” I’m calling this one seismic. And knowing Erika? She’s nowhere near done shaking things up.

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Learn more about The Rub PR:

therubpr.com