OnlyFans starlet Kendra Bates Goes Amish

You may have heard of adult stars turning to god before, but this story is a little different. She didn't just find god, she went full-on Amish.

Kendra Bates, a former OnlyFans model and professional dancer, has left her life in Los Angeles to live in an Amish community in rural Pennsylvania, describing the decision as a turning point shaped by faith and personal reflection.

Photo credit: Instagram @_kendrabates_

33-year-old Kendra Bates is one of six participants featured on Suddenly Amish, a new reality series on TLC that follows non-Amish individuals, known as “English,” as they leave modern life behind to experience traditional Amish living. The series premiered on January 13 and airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m.

The show centers on an unusual arrangement led by an Amish bishop identified on-screen as Bishop Vernon, who is portrayed as opening his community to outsiders in hopes of growth.

Cameras are permitted to document the experience, which the network has described as a social experiment that departs from typical Amish custom.

Kendra Bates said the opportunity arrived during a period of upheaval. After nearly a decade in Los Angeles, she had begun questioning her career, relationships, and identity.

“When I was presented with this opportunity, I was like, ‘This is literally an opportunity from God,’” she said in media interviews. “I’ve gotten so far away from my roots living in LA. I’m just not feeling it anymore.”

Originally from Wisconsin, Kendra Bates said the shift toward a traditional lifestyle was not entirely unfamiliar. Her family was part of a Mennonite community several generations ago, a Christian group that shares historical and theological roots with the Amish but is generally more accepting of modern life.

For years, Bates described herself as a “proud atheist,” a period she now associates with heavy drinking, drug use, and what she called a lack of moral grounding. She later joined OnlyFans during what she described as a low point, drawn in part by the promise of financial stability during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I started doing OnlyFans because the money was very enticing,” Bates said. “I thought I was owning my sexuality and empowerment. I realize now I was doing the opposite of what I thought I should be doing.”

Her outlook shifted after stepping into a church service that she described as emotionally overwhelming. Bates was baptized in January 2025, an event she now views as a spiritual reset. Despite that change, she said her long-standing curiosity about Amish life remained.

That curiosity became reality after she responded to a casting call she saw on social media. With her family’s support, Bates joined the series, prepared to give up her phone, makeup, and other modern conveniences. She said she was less prepared for the scrutiny surrounding modesty and appearance.

In the first episode, Kendra Bates appears wearing a short skirt and a low-cut top, prompting a conversation with Bishop Vernon about appropriate dress. She initially felt judged, but later said the discussion forced her to confront lingering contradictions between her faith and how she presented herself.

“I was confused because I thought I was doing everything right,” she said. “But something still wasn’t aligned.” Bates said she ultimately discarded most of her wardrobe during the experience.

Amish communities traditionally avoid photography and filming, viewing images as conflicting with values of humility and collective identity, though practices can vary. The series highlights that tension while documenting the participants’ adjustments to daily life without modern technology.

Kendra Bates said her experience on the show, while filmed for television, reflects a genuine personal transformation. She no longer views her past work as defining her.

“I no longer struggle with the fact that I did OnlyFans because I’m learning the grace and forgiveness of God,” she said. “My past is my past, and it doesn’t define me anymore.”

While she does not describe herself as a perfect Christian, Kendra Bates said her priorities, values, and sense of purpose have changed.

For now, she says, stepping away from Los Angeles and immersing herself in a radically different way of life has given her clarity she could not find before.