Milana Vayntrub is proving that philanthropy can take unexpected â and powerful â forms.
The actress, widely known as âLilyâ from AT&T commercials and Netflix’s “Monster,” has raised more than $500,000 for victims of devastating Los Angeles wildfires by selling risqué photos of herself online.
Vayntrub launched the fundraising effort in response to the destruction caused by wildfires that displaced families and destroyed homes across Southern California.
She called the project Only Philanthropy, where she would release âflirtyâ images of herself.
Rather than relying on traditional donation drives, she chose a direct and personal approach, offering exclusive photos in exchange for contributions â with all proceeds benefiting wildfire relief efforts.
Vayntrub was clear about her intent from the start.
She took to Instagram on Dec. 8 to reveal the large sum of money she raised.Â
âWeâve raised over half a million dollars together this year. Now letâs grow this into something bigger, stranger, more powerful, with more creators jumping in,â she wrote.
Vayntrub Explains How She Was Inspired
She also explained how the idea came to be.
âI had this full-on crazy idea for an experiment,â Vayntrub added, as she posted a caroseul of images. âAfter the LA fires this year, I saw that what people really needed was some cash. So I wondered if you and me could try something ridiculous and team up to help the people affected.â
The images, while bold, were created on her own terms and framed as a conscious act of bodily autonomy rather than provocation.
She positioned the project as a way to reclaim control over her image while channeling attention and resources toward people in urgent need.
Fans React
The response was immediate.
Fans and supporters quickly rallied behind the campaign, pushing donations past the half-million-dollar mark.
“Oh my gosh I LOVE this!” one user wrote.
Many were calling the star a genius for coming up with the creative idea to raise money for charity.
Many praised Vayntrub for her transparency and willingness to use her platform â and herself â to generate tangible help rather than performative awareness. “I love that this takes such a taboo thing, stares it in the face, and creates something so impactful,” someone noted.
She thanked fans for suppporting her with their contributions.
âI gave pics. You gave heart. We helped people rebuild. Thanks for having faith in this wild idea. Iâm so proud to be in this with you,â she said in a July video.
The actress has long been involved in activism and humanitarian causes.
Born in Uzbekistan, Vayntrub immigrated to the United States as a child after her family fled religious persecution.
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