Wellness Influencer Kat Torres Jailed For Trafficking And Slavery (image: instagram.com/royalyachts)
Ex-Brazilian model and wellness influencer Kat Torres has been sentenced to eight years in prison for human trafficking and slavery. Her arrest came after an FBI investigation found that two young Brazilian women living with her were reported missing in September 2022.
The women who claimed to be trafficked and enslaved by Torres recounted their tortuous experience of living with her to BBC. They stated that they got attracted to her because they were fascinated by Torres’s journey from impoverishment to riches.
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In her self-help book called A Voz [A Voice], influencer claimed that she could make predictions as a result of her spiritual powers. Torres, once rumoured to be dating actor Leonardo DiCaprio is a regular face on reputable Brazilian media shows.
Ana, not one of the missing woman but a victim of influencer’s exploitation told BBC: “She [Torres] kind of resembled hope for me.” She also added that she was carried away by Torres’ approach to spirituality and did not know Torres inspirational story was based on half truths and lies.
Torres’ former flat mate told BBC that her Hollywood friends had introduced her to a hallucinogenic drug called ayahuasca and it was through it she reinvented her image as a life coach and hypnotist.
Her wellness website and subscription service promised customers: “Love, money and self-esteem that you always dreamed of.”
Besides, Torres has create self-help videos offering advice on relationships, wellness, business success and spirituality which includes hypnosis, meditation and exercise programmes, BBC reports.
In 2019, Ana agreed to shift to New York to work as Torres live-in assistant upon latter’s demand. Ana accepted the offer to look after Torres’ animals, her cooking, laundry and cleaning for about $2000 a month. But she was never paid and demanded to be constantly available for Torres.
After Ana’s escape, Torres hired two more women — Desirre and Leticia and she pressured Desirre into working at a local strip club and if failed to accept, she would have to repay all the money Torres had spent on her. Soon, Torres persuade Desiree to turn to prostitution.
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In September, family and friends of Desirre and Leticia back in Brazil launched social media campaigns to find them. More than 20 women came forward with stories of being exploited or scammed by Torres and many people are still undergoing psychiatric therapy to recover from the traumatic experience.
Earlier this month, a Brazilian judge sentenced Torres to eight years in prison for subjecting Desirre to human trafficking and slavery. She had tempted the young woman to the US for the purpose of sexual exploitation, the judge concluded.
