1 / 8In a political first, the winner of the race for mayor in a state in Ecuador was propelled to victory by OnlyFans.2 / 8\María Fernanda Vargas – known to her fans as “Mafer” – is now mayor of the Simón Bolívar canton, in the Ecuadorian province of Guayas.3 / 8The new mayor, who owns a popular beauty salon and has a degree in Journalism from the State University of Milagro, was until recently a successful OnlyFans model.4 / 8It’s unclear how much of “Mafer’s” success is due to her following on the adult content platform. María’s opponents had claimed a former adult entertainer couldn’t be taken seriously by voters but in the final reckoning she collected half of the possible votes.5 / 8María closed her successful OnlyFans account in 2022, at the beginning of her mayoral campaign.6 / 8She told reporters that she had only signed up for the adult platform in order to help finance her political ambitions.7 / 8María explained that she wanted to be able to “pay my 10-strong team, as well as provide a living for my daughters and myself”.8 / 8And the gamble paid off. because on Sunday (February 5), she announced her success via social media, writing: 'Thank God and all the people of Simon who are are a part of this historic process for Simón Bolívar.