From Dorm Room Hustle to Debt-Free Degrees

The Twin Sisters' Unconventional College Side Gig

Enter Stacey and Kathy, identical Asian twins from a modest Taiwanese-American family in California. Born in Taipei but raised in Los Angeles, these 22-year-old sisters embarked on a journey through a competitive business program with big dreams—and even bigger bills. With scholarships covering only half their costs and part-time jobs barely scratching the surface, they turned to an unexpected revenue stream: selling their used undergarments online. What started as a whispered dare between siblings evolved into a savvy operation that not only paid their way but taught them invaluable lessons in entrepreneurship, self-empowerment, and the niche economies thriving in the digital age.

It all began during their freshman year in 2022. Stacey, the bolder of the two with her sharp wit and marketing flair, stumbled upon online forums discussing the "worn panty" market while browsing Reddit's r/Entrepreneur. "I saw posts about women making hundreds per sale," she recalls in our exclusive interview. "It was anonymous, flexible, and tapped into something people craved—intimacy without strings." Kathy, more reserved but equally pragmatic, was initially skeptical. "We're Asian twins; people might fetishize that," she admitted. But with rent due and textbooks piling up, they decided to test the waters. Drawing from their cultural background—where resourcefulness is a virtue—they viewed it as a modern twist on the side hustles their immigrant parents had juggled.

The setup was simple yet strategic. They created profiles on platforms like Pantydeal, Aroma Exchange and Snifffr, using pseudonyms like "TwinBlossoms" to hint at their duo dynamic without revealing identities. Photos were teasing but faceless: a glimpse of lace against toned legs, or matching sets draped over dorm furniture. They emphasized their Asian heritage subtly— "Exotic silk from petite twins"—knowing it appealed to a global clientele seeking novelty. Pricing started modest: $40 for a basic cotton pair worn during a lecture day, escalating to $150 for "premium" options like post-yoga sessions or custom requests (e.g., scented with their favorite jasmine perfume). Vacuum-sealed packaging ensured freshness, and discreet shipping via USPS kept things professional.

Word spread quickly. Their twin status was a goldmine; buyers loved the fantasy of identical items from mirror-image sellers. "We'd alternate days—Stacey on Mondays, me on Wednesdays—to keep stock fresh," Kathy explains. They coordinated outfits, buying bulk from affordable brands like Aerie or Uniqlo, rotating through colors and styles to match trends. Earnings snowballed: In their first month, they cleared $800, enough for groceries and a textbook splurge. By sophomore year, consistent sales hit $2,500 monthly, covering tuition installments and even funding a spring break trip to Vegas. "It was empowering," Stacey says. "We weren't waitressing late nights or Ubering strangers. This was on our terms—our bodies, our schedules."

Of course, challenges arose. Navigating anonymity was crucial; they used VPNs, separate PayPal accounts, and P.O. boxes to shield their real lives. Creepy requests were inevitable—some buyers pushed for videos or meetups—but the sisters set firm boundaries, blocking offenders instantly. "We treated it like a business," Kathy notes. "No emotions, just transactions." Their Asian background added layers: Family expectations loomed large, with parents assuming their "online gigs" meant freelance graphic design. The stigma of sex work hovered, but they reframed it as supply meeting demand in a consensual market. "Society judges women for monetizing their allure," Stacey argues, "but men do it with OnlyFans or stocks. Why not us?"

As juniors, they scaled up. Leveraging Stacey's business classes, they built a mini-brand: Bundles like "Twin Tease Packs" (one pair from each) or seasonal specials (Halloween-themed lace). Social media teasers on anonymous Twitter accounts drove traffic, using hashtags like #UsedPanties and #CollegeHustle without explicit content. Kathy handled logistics—washing, packaging, tracking—while Stacey managed customer chats, turning polite rejections into upsells. By senior year, their operation funded not just tuition but extracurriculars: Stacey joined a startup incubator, Kathy pursued photography electives. Total earnings? Over $50,000 across four years, wiping out loans and leaving a nest egg.

Reflecting now, post-graduation with entry-level jobs in marketing and finance, the twins see their venture as transformative. "It wasn't just about the money," Kathy reflects. "It built our confidence, taught negotiation, and showed us the power of niche markets." Stacey adds, "In a world where college debt averages $30,000, we hacked the system. And yeah, being Asian twins gave us an edge—embracing that wasn't exploitation; it was smart." Their story isn't unique; platforms report thousands of student sellers worldwide, from Tokyo to Toronto. But for Stacey and Kathy, it's a testament to ingenuity. If you're a broke student eyeing that next bill, perhaps peek into the drawer of possibilities. Who knows? Your everyday essentials could fund your extraordinary future.