OnlyFans escort Kay Manuel puts rumours to bed amid Schoolies 2024 backlash

A Schoolies escort is putting it out there on her terms – not born female, no X-rated content filmed with Schoolies this year and the Gold Coast is an escape from “small town mindset”.

Controversial Schoolies escort Kay Manuel has taken it upon herself to put it out there on her terms – she was not born female, has filmed no X-rated content with Schoolies this year and Gold Coast is an escape from a “small town mindset”.

Originally from Coffs Harbour before heading for the glitz and glamour of the Gold Coast, the OnlyFans creator who has been heavily criticised for her plans to film X-rated scenes with 18-year-olds during the annual Schoolies celebration on the Gold Coast, said she wanted to squash rumours circulating online she was “misleading” school leavers.

In an exclusive interview this week, she admitted the numbers she previously provided about bed partners were a hyped publicity stunt, she had not yet filmed with any 2024 “barely legal” graduates, and any she filmed with last year when the whole controversy began were made aware of Ms Manuel’s gender transition.

Last week, Ms Manuel - who erected a billboard promoting herself in central Surfers to the 20,000 Schooles expected and hosted a nightclub “meet and greet” - defiantly told critics: “Take it up with the government. This is all legal.”

Model Kay Manuel. Picture: Instagram

On Tuesday, she said: “The intention was to film, the consent forms were ready, everything was okayed by a lawyer and the Schoolies were on board.”

But the 22-year-old - who days ago boasted she’s filmed X-rated content with 75 graduates in 48 hours - said she was actually put off at the weekend by a range of factors including reporters “hounding” her in the street from day one of the rite-of-passage event.

“It was never intended to be just a publicity stunt, but I had reporters coming up to me in the street, hassling me. Would not let me leave without comment,” she said.

“I tried to walk away – I was quite literally shaking and didn’t know what else to do, besides lie, and they just ran with it. And then it just progressed from there.”

Ms Manuel said she was unsure if she would even go ahead with filming as originally planned for this year’s Schoolies event.

“I’m not saying no and I’m not saying yes,” she said.

Ms Manuel said in light of what she called deplorable rhetoric circulating online, she said her gender transition was just part of becoming her authentic self.

“I don’t think like there’s a whole lot to it to be completely honest,” she said.

“It’s just always been me and everyone around me has always known that.”

“I think that some people have always speculated. I don’t refer to myself as transgender. I never have. I think that term – you’re just calling yourself a man so at that point, you might just as well call yourself just that,” she said.

Kay Manuel at Platinum nightclub in Surfers Paradise, Schoolies 2024. Picture: Supplied

The now Gold Coaster said her procedures have allowed her to live her “best life”.

“People around me see how happy I am – I can just do me. Like, I can walk down the street and be like, ‘okay I’m fine’. I don’t have to think really about anything whereas before I would have to do so many things just to go to swim at the beach.”

She said the public had no right to scrutinise her and she had no need to justify “anything to anyone” – however confirmed all parties involved in last year’s Schoolies stunt were informed of her transitioning.

“I can understand where there can be some questions, but like, it’s really no one’s (the public’s) business,” she said.

“I haven’t had to disclose it this year because I haven’t filmed with anyone. Every single person I had filmed with (in the past) has had a good experience – there were two people that asked to have their content removed last year, and it was because they were going for government jobs, one was in the editing phase so never posted and the other was removed immediately.”

Kay Manuel in Surfers Paradise, Schoolies 2024. Picture: Supplied

After moving to the Gold Coast for a new life at 18, she says she moved to the Glitter Strip to launch a career in the adult industry, having previously worked on a small wage at McDonalds from the age of 14 and moving to escape “small town mindset” after being bullied for most of her schooling life.

She admitted she came into the limelight knowing her transition would one day surface – but for Ms Manuel business trumps all, while personal matters take a back seat.

“This will pass,” she said. “And we’ll start working hard not rebuilding, but to keep building. I knew this would come out at one point or another, so as much as I would love to continue to deny it, evidence is damning.”

Last week, State Member for Surfers Paradise John-Paul Langbroek said escorts scandalising Schoolies rite-of-passage celebrations were “an example of the deleterious effects of social media”.