When paleontologist Reysuka accesssed X this week, she likely had no idea that triggering a Digital War over women’s roles in STEM, sexuality, and self-expression was on the agenda. But after a single post goes viral, the controversy erupted.
Her post, where she was clad in body-hugging clothing and had the saucy caption “i’m a paleontologist with a Ph.D., come talk to Dino Mommy! 😘””, gained over 90,000 likes and 8 million views in 48 hours.
The photo was half self-plug to her account “Dino Mommy,” which mixes dinosaur learning with OnlyFans videos, a fusion that no one could have predicted, yet that seemingly had done the trick.
They Call Her ‘Brother’s Keeper’
Backlash was quick to follow. A few questioned Reysuka’s scholarly credentials, openly wondering if she even had a Ph.D. Others challenged her with putting sexuality over scientific authority.
One reviewer encapsulated the skepticism in plain terms: “Has PhD. Still uses her sexuality as her primary tool to get attention.”Another added to the criticism with a more general rejection of STEM women, stating: “Women get educated to look good. Real life games they will only bank on sex as their negotiation card because that’s all they have.”
The undertone in much criticism was obvious, that no woman could simultaneously hold academic authority and accept sexuality except at the cost of sacrificing the former to the latter.
Defenders Speak Out Against Misogyny and Hypocriticism
Supporters, though, came to Reysuka’s defense, blaming critics of sexism and old-fashioned thinking. What really bothered them was less Reysuka’s qualifications and more that this was about society disliking women who will not conform to accepted rules.
One of the popular defense reads: “god forbid a woman uses the tools in her toolbox to make a good life for herself lmfao yall are so offended by women using our sexuality, honestly i think yall are just jealous you can’t do the same. sucks to suck i guess ????”
Then another added the not-so-subtle irony: “Woman is intelligent and attractive, internet still manages to bash her.
Reysuka’s melding of science outreach and sensual branding is defended against double standards. Male scientists scarcely ever get criticized for appearances, much less get shamed for using charisma in public outreach.
Bigger Picture: STEM, Sex, and Survival
In addition to the clapbacks and memes, Reysuka’s gone-viral post refers to deeper cultural tensions. Women remain underrepresented in STEM fields and those who succeed in them endure added levels of criticism over how they look, dress, and act. Controversy highlights a double bind: be taken seriously in science yet risk becoming invisible, or accept femininity and sexuality and risk being dismissed.
One commenter followed it all the way back to money and opportunity and wrote: “To be fair, sex sells. Months later, an OnlyFans woman proudly claimed to have been a data scientist for years but she’s generated more revenue off OnlyFans lol. Some really do read up a lot but sex generates quick money off desperate men.”
In short, the criticism isn’t about Reysuka per se. It’s about who gets to say what success, credibility, and agency look like among women in manly domains.
Dino Mommy’s Legacy: A Symbol or a Scandal?
Until this point, Reysuka sits at the center of the storm that she contributed to creating, with “Dino Mommy” becoming a cultural Rorschach test. In some eyes, she’s tearing down science’s credibility with sex appeal. In others, she’s seizing a sense of power in an industry where women still fight to be heard.
Whether she’s portrayed as disruptor or distraction will depend less on her real degree and more on whether the world is in a place to accept that a woman can simultaneously be both smart enough to describe dinosaurs and sexy enough to advertise subscriptions. And if her social media numbers are any indicator, Dino Mommy might very well be rewriting the prehistoric code of STEM with each and every post.
