In September 2022, the families of two young Brazilian women reported them missing, sparking a nationwide search across the U.S. The women were known to be living with wellness influencer Kat Torres. Now, Torres, a once glamorous figure who partied with Hollywood elites like Leonardo DiCaprio, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for human trafficking and slavery.

From grievance to glamour to grooming

Ana, one of the first trafficking victims of Torres recounts how she was initially drawn to Torres’ Instagram in 2017. Ana endured a violent childhood and domestic violence and was inspired by Torres’s spiritual outlook and story of overcoming trauma and abuse. However, what Ana did not know was that Torres’s story was a façade.

Torres’ wellness website promised clients “love, money, and self-esteem that you always dreamed of” and offered various self-help resources. For an additional fee, clients could receive one-on-one video consultations with Torres, where she claimed to solve their problems. Followers say they found themselves becoming increasingly psychologically isolated from friends and family and willing to do anything Torres suggested.

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