Drama has unfolded between former Emmerdale star Sammy Winward and her daughter Mia Dunn, who has made headlines for her thriving career on OnlyFans. Mia, 19, claims her mother is envious of her success and has distanced herself from the family due to disapproval of Mia's career, which reportedly earns her up to £100,000 a month.
Mia Dunn, who goes by the name Mia Kate Rose during her adult modeling gigs, made waves with her recent statements about the fallout with her family. The daughter of Winward—famous for her role as Katie Sugden on Emmerdale—and former footballer David Dunn, Mia has spoken candidly about the growing rift, especially around the holiday season when her mom refused to reconcile. "I think the main thing with my mum is she was really young – 18 – when she had me. I think she's got some animosity toward me," Mia told The Sun.
The estrangement has left Mia feeling isolated, as she claims both parents are unwilling to support her adult career. "I'm completely fully cut off, which is really big shame because I thought I'd be the bigger person in the whole situation," the young model lamented.
The financial success of Mia’s career has been substantial; last month alone, she reportedly earned £60,000 from her adult content, including unique requests like squashing bananas with her toes. Mia insists her work requires diligence and creativity, stating, "It takes more work than just being their daughter." Despite her lucrative income, Mia has expressed disappointment over the emotional distance growing between her and her family, articulately sharing her feelings of hurt over the responses from her parents.
To add fuel to the fire, Mia claimed her father, David Dunn, lashed out during a phone conversation, referring to her as a "we." This incident marked the low point of their interactions. "I tried to reconnect with my dad and he called me a we on the phone," Mia recounted. Undeterred by their harsh words, Mia remains hopeful for reconciliation, though she acknowledges she might have to wait until her parents are ready to approach her on calmer terms.
Mia previously described her relationship with her mother as once being close—resembling best friends—but has since noted the tensions and misunderstandings stemming from her career choice. She articulated, "I think they are just being protective of me. It’s not been nice, and some of the conversations we had before we stopped talking weren’t great. But I will always love and appreciate them." Yet, the emotional toll has manifested itself, and Mia insists she would never disown or verbally attack her own children over their life choices.
The spiraling conflict has drawn public attention, siding with Mia as she shares her story. Many believe it showcases generational clashes brought on by the rapid changes in technology and societal norms—especially concerning women's empowerment and the acceptance of sex work as legitimate, albeit controversial, means of income. Mia highlighted her feelings of empowerment from being on OnlyFans, where she claimed, "I am my own boss and I'm confident in myself and what I'm doing."
Last summer, when the dispute came to light, it was reported Mia had not spoken to her mother for four months, culminating from disagreements over her subscription-based platform career. Even though Mia has larger ambitions outside of OnlyFans—planning to transition to real estate—her current role has provided her the financial leverage to pursue her dreams.
Mia still cherishes her family ties but recognizes the fixation they have on her career path. "I do totally get the fact they don’t love what I do, but at the same time, I am, I’m a human being and especially – I am the human being who came out of my mother," she stated, seeking validation for her feelings. She stated she is taking steps back from the communication line with her parents until they approach her with openness.
Although the future of Mia's career is not solely reliant on OnlyFans, she sees it as the means to build capital for her real estate ventures. "It’s not been nice seeing the side of my family’s reaction. It just wouldn’t cross my mind to cut off contact with my own children," she reiterated. Balancing both her ambitions and familial expectations continues to challenge Mia.
The tension within this family saga remains unresolved, drawing sympathy and intrigue from the public as they await what might come next for Mia, Sammy, and David. Mia remains open to rebuilding the family relationship, even amid the hurt feelings and harsh words exchanged.