On the outside, modeling is an attractive industry in more ways than one: beautiful people, glamorous clothing, vogue fashion, and easy money. Unfortunately, within and around the industry is the exploitation of models through human trafficking. Modeling agencies and those who pose as agents act as vehicles for human trafficking. Laws and regulations have begun to target problems in the modeling industry, but more work needs to be done to make modeling safer.
Modeling and Human Trafficking
The prevalence and extent of sexual exploitation in the fashion industry is extensive. Aspiring models to people looking for a side job to career models, trafficking can happen to anyone in the industry.
Who?
Sex trafficking comprises of five million victims in 2018 according to the International Labor Organization. For the fashion industry, trafficking victims tend to be emigrated, young women from impoverished and underdeveloped communities. Their position creates a sense of depravity and discrimination in the global community, falling behind economically and feeling isolated and hopeless. Part of their poverty is a willingness and desire to make a positive impact in their lives and chase their dreams. Modeling agencies take advantage of this with the unrealistic media portrayal of life as a model – wealth, fame, and glamour.
Once hooked by this deception, real or fake modeling agencies lure these young women and treat them as slaves. Traffickers set absurd rules to inhibit and restrict victims’ daily lives. The women are often told they owe a virtual or real debt to their oppressors, such as rent for staying in an apartment or payment for a visa. Then, these women are pressured or asked to do things unexpectedly, such as explicit sexual favors or pornography to pay for the unattainable debt. If they refuse, they risk their job, their pay, their dreams, and even their freedom.
Life as a Model
Life as a model seems to be a luxurious life. The modeling industry itself comprises $2.4 trillion, more than the $2.0 trillion gross domestic product of Brazil in 2017. Unfortunately, this glamour and luxury is rarely met by most models. In an extremely competitive industry, models experience little margin for error in the race for beauty.
Often, models starve themselves to meet unrealistic beauty expectations usually pressured by agencies and contemporary social setting. Sadly, far more heinous acts also happen on a consistent basis in the modeling industry. Lacking strong labor laws, if any, models are consistently treated poorly. Sexual harassment, child labor, wage theft, human trafficking, and modern slavery perpetuate everyday unseen from public view.
Modeling and Human Trafficking Around the Globe
Agencies acquire models from all around the world; likewise, trafficking occurs all around the world.
Trafficking In Developing Countries
Trafficking in developing countries is more prevalent, mainly because there is low security and lack of law enforcement. As a result, traffickers are more difficult to track down than in developed countries. Traffickers may operate extensively before, if ever, being arrested.
In Venezuela, for instance, Sambil Modeling agency had four employees arrested for human trafficking charges. The director, Jenny Rosales, was arrested for taking several agency models and putting them in the hands of a gang. Centro Sambil, the agency owner, claims that he had no knowledge of the illegal activity. Rosales was arrested after she allegedly attempted to transport seven women to the municipality of Sifontes in Bolivar and sell them to a human trafficking ring. This ring was run by a known gang boss, Fabio Enrique González Isaza, alias “Negro Fabio,” according to Tinta Violeta, a women’s rights non-governmental organization.
Trafficking in Developed Countries
Developed countries typically have larger and better funded law enforcement to combat trafficking. Additionally, movements like #MeToo spur society to pay closer attention to injustices like sexual assault and human trafficking, both of which are prevalent in the modeling industry.
#MeToo in Modeling
The #MeToo movement was started by activist and sexual assault survivor Tarana Burke in 2006. Originally, the movement was started to support and encourage females of color in poor communities who have survived sexual violence. In 2017, however, the hashtag #MeToo became popular on social media in Hollywood against sexual assault and harassment. This mainstream media activism coincides with awareness about human trafficking.
Airica Kraehmer’s Experience
A sexual assault and human trafficking survivor, Airica Kraehmer was in college studying to become a physician and wanted to work in healthcare like her mother. While working jobs to pay for school, she began modeling. Kraehmer was referred to a modelling agency in New York City where she was manipulated, lied to, and forced into human trafficking.
After months of being beaten, drugged, and exploited, Kraehmer finally escaped and contacted the police. After these events, Kraehmer struggled with PTSD, medical issues, and relationship issues. On her road to recovery, nonprofit federal agencies helped her to get back on her feet, and her purpose in life completely shifted. She now spreads awareness and helps victims that were in similar situations as her. She is a part of the survivor community and speaks publicly about her journey, inspiring people all across the world.
Impact of Human Trafficking on Modeling
Many different lives have been affected by human trafficking in modeling. While laws, enforcement, and movements are beginning to make positive changes, a lot more must be done to further protect those in the modeling industry. Help The Asservo Project to save lives by raising awareness about human trafficking.
References
Kraehmer, Airica. (n.d.). I was offered a ‘fashion model’ job. Naive, I took it. It was a false company ran by dead people in other states.’: Human trafficking survivor speaks out, ‘I never thought it would happen to me. Love What Matters. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/i-was-offered-a-fashion-model-job-naive-i-took-it-it-was-a-false-company-ran-by-dead-people-in-other-states-human-trafficking-survivor-speaks-out-i-never-thought-it-would-happen-to-me/.
Learning to Give. (n.d.). The philanthropic meaning of the #MeToo movement. Retrieved May 6, 2022, from https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/philanthropic-meaning-metoo-movement
Stop the Traffic. (2020, October 4). Trafficking in the name of modeling. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from https://www.stopthetraffik.org/models/.
Venezuela Investigative Unit. (2021, May 5). Venezuela’s modeling agencies repeatedly linked to human trafficking. InSight Crime. Retrieved May 6, 2022, from https://insightcrime.org/news/venezuela-modeling-agencies-repeatedly-linked-human-trafficking/
Walker, A.J. (2019, May 6). Forced into sex trafficking while trying to become a supermodel. CBS 12 News. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from https://cbs12.com/news/local/forced-into-sex-trafficking-while-trying-to-become-a-super-model.
Worldometer. (2017). GDP by country. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from https://www.worldometers.info/gdp/gdp-by-country/#:~:text=GDP%20by%20Country%20%20%20%20%23%20,%20%202.22%25%20%2022%20more%20rows%20.