The Rub PR’s Big Night: Why Erika Icon’s Win Matters for the Industry
- Ryder Vale
- Aug 28, 2025
- 4 min read
By Ryder Vale | Staff Writer, Only Fans Insider Magazine
Awards season has a way of pulling back the curtain on the adult industry. Beneath the lights, the gowns, and the trophies is something bigger: recognition of the people who keep this industry not just alive, but evolving.
At this year’s ASN Awards in Orlando, one name kept echoing through the ballroom: The Rub PR.
When the winners were announced, the agency took home Best Public Relations Firm—for the second time. They were the first to ever win it in 2022, and now, three years later, they’ve done it again. And as if that wasn’t enough, Erika Icon, the powerhouse founder of The Rub PR, was inducted into the ASN Hall of Fame.
It was the kind of night that reminds you why visibility, reputation, and storytelling matter.
A Night of Recognition
The red carpet was crowded with stars—performers, producers, influencers, and business leaders. The Rub PR’s clients were everywhere: Dr. K of ProDx Health, Ariel Demure, Brittany Andrews, Krystal Sparks, Crystal Thayer, and Goddess Lilith among them.
Erika took to the stage multiple times, not only to accept awards on behalf of her firm but also for clients who couldn’t be there in person. When she accepted Best Public Relations Firm, she quipped that the trophy was bigger than the one she’d received before, reminding the audience with a wink that “size does matter.”
But the night wasn’t just about trophies—it was about legacy. Later, host Casey Carter presented Erika with her Hall of Fame induction, a career-defining honor that acknowledges not just what she’s accomplished but how she’s changed the landscape of adult publicity.
And maybe the most meaningful moments of the evening weren’t even about Erika herself. She presented Brittany Andrews with her Lifetime Achievement Award and accepted Andie Anderson’s trophy for Best Social Media Influencer. As Erika later put it: “The true honor was being the one to celebrate the people I believe in.”
That’s Erika Icon in a nutshell: she wins, but she makes sure her clients win with her.
Why This Win Matters Beyond the Ballroom
Here’s the thing: awards matter. They’re proof of impact, a marker of credibility in an industry where trust can be fragile. But for PR firms especially, wins like this are a reminder of how much influence happens behind the scenes.
Performers often get the spotlight. Studios get the distribution deals. Platforms get the headlines. But without PR firms like The Rub PR, many of those stories wouldn’t travel nearly as far—or cross into mainstream conversations at all.
And Erika has been bridging that gap for years. She’s placed clients in Cosmo, Elle, Vice, Playboy, The Daily Beast, GQ, and even the Wall Street Journal. She’s secured TV appearances, film casting, and viral media moments. She’s turned the adult industry into a place where mainstream eyes are looking not just with curiosity, but with respect.
That’s why this win matters. Because it’s not just about Erika Icon. It’s about every performer who’s benefited from her ability to amplify their voice beyond the usual channels.
The Rub PR Difference
So what makes The Rub PR stand out? Strategy.
This isn’t about pushing press releases into inboxes and hoping for coverage. It’s about shaping narratives. Erika knows how to take a performer’s journey and turn it into a story that editors want to run, that brands want to align with, and that audiences want to engage with.
That’s the difference between fleeting attention and long-term brand building.
In 2025, media visibility is currency. And for creators, it can mean the difference between being “just another account” and being an influencer. That visibility leads to:
Brand Partnerships – aligning with companies outside the adult space.
Licensing Deals – turning likenesses and performances into products and merch.
Mainstream Opportunities – casting calls, documentaries, and TV roles.
It’s the domino effect of good PR: one well-placed story can start a chain reaction.
The Woman Behind the Curtain
Born in New York and raised with the kind of East Coast attitude that commands a room, Erika Icon started The Rub PR in 2008 after working as an art director and copywriter in Los Angeles advertising agencies. That dual background—creative vision plus copy precision—became her secret weapon in adult PR.
She’s been profiled by PR Week, interviewed by Cosmo, quoted by the Wall Street Journal, and featured in XBIZ’s Women in Adult. She’s a freelance writer, a strategist, and—let’s be real—one of the hardest-working women in this business.
What makes her unique isn’t just the resume. It’s the way she treats PR not as a service, but as an extension of the performer’s brand. She doesn’t just tell the story—she makes sure the story sticks.
Ryder’s Note: Why We Should Care
As someone who spends his days writing about creators, I see the difference PR makes up close. Without it, many performers would be trapped in the cycle of chasing follows, battling algorithms, and trying to out-shout the noise.
With it, they’re building something sustainable. They’re turning their names into brands. They’re making sure they’re not just performers but entrepreneurs, influencers, and cultural voices.
Erika Icon’s win at the ASN Awards—and her Hall of Fame induction—isn’t just about her. It’s about a reminder that storytelling matters. Narrative matters. And when someone like Erika is in your corner, it’s not just about being seen—it’s about being remembered.
So yes, the trophy is bigger this year. But the legacy? That’s the part that will last.
See the full list of winners:
Learn more about The Rub PR:
Comments