Epstein Used Modelling Agent to Recruit Girls

Published: March 12, 2026
The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Brazilian women have told the BBC that a modelling agent helped recruit young girls for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, promising careers in the fashion industry before arranging trips to meet the disgraced financier in the United States.

According to the women, the recruiter approached aspiring models in Brazil with offers of international modelling opportunities, claiming he could arrange visas, travel and professional connections in New York. Several women said they believed they were being invited for legitimate modelling work but later realised they had been drawn into Epstein’s network.

The claims add to long-standing allegations that Epstein relied on a global network of associates who helped identify and recruit young women from different countries. Investigations over the years have already documented the involvement of modelling agents and intermediaries who allegedly targeted vulnerable teenagers by promising careers in fashion or entertainment.

Some of the Brazilian women interviewed described being contacted through modelling agencies or talent scouts who portrayed Epstein as a wealthy businessman with powerful connections. They said travel arrangements were often organised quickly, including visas and accommodation, which initially reinforced the impression that the opportunities were legitimate.

However, several said the reality changed once they arrived in the United States or met Epstein. They reported pressure to socialise with him and participate in activities that had nothing to do with modelling work. For some, the experience led to feelings of confusion, fear and betrayal after realising they had been misled about the purpose of their trips.

The allegations echo earlier investigations into Epstein’s links with French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, who was accused by multiple women of recruiting young girls from disadvantaged backgrounds for the financier under the guise of modelling careers. Brunel founded MC2 Model Management, a modelling agency that reportedly received financial backing from Epstein and later came under scrutiny in trafficking investigations.

Court records and released investigative files also reference other scouts who allegedly helped identify potential recruits in Europe, South America and other regions. These intermediaries would send photographs and profiles of aspiring models to Epstein and sometimes organise travel and meetings.

Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges involving underage girls but died in a New York jail cell before his trial began. His associate Ghislaine Maxwell was later convicted in 2021 for helping recruit and groom minors for abuse.

The Brazilian women who spoke to the BBC say they decided to share their stories because they want greater accountability for those who facilitated Epstein’s network. Many believe the focus should extend beyond Epstein himself to include the individuals and systems that allowed the recruitment of young women to continue for years.

Their testimonies contribute to the broader effort by journalists, investigators and survivors to understand how Epstein’s international network operated and how young women from multiple countries were drawn into it through promises of fame, money and modelling careers.

Read More At>>