The story of a ‘wellness’ influencer who now is behind bars after human trafficking her fans will be the focus of a BBC documentary airing tonight, which includes an interview with the influencer herself.
Kat Torres, a former influencer and model, was sentenced to eight years in prison in Brazil last year for human trafficking and slavery.
Torres is the focus of a BBC documentary airing on TV tonight: Like, Follow, Trafficked: Insta’s Fake Guru. The BBC was issued a rare court in order to interview Torres, who was interviewed prior to the outcome of her trial.
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Torres, according to friends, ‘completely changed’ after discovering ayahuasca, and began her journey to become a wellness and lifestyle coach.
In 2017, however, she wrote a self-help book called A Voice, a book she claimed she wrote due to guidance from a ‘higher power’ and included her claims, as a self-professed ‘witch’, to be able to make predictions about the future due to her ‘spiritual powers'.
She lived a luxurious lifestyle, claimed to be friends with Leonardo DiCaprio and even hinted at one point the pair were dating (though she later denied this).
The book, and her wellness techniques, centred around the idea of manifesting a life like hers – as well as charging hundreds for wellness sessions – covering dating advice, consolations, and holistic living guidance.
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Eventually, Torres convinced young impressionable Brazilian women to come and join her in the US to try and live her life and marry wealthy men. Instead, two women who took her up on the offer, Leticia Maia Alvarenga and Desirrê Freitas, ended up on escort websites.
Desirrê has spoken in a memoir, stating that it began with being forced to work at a strip club for seven nights a week, before ultimately being forced into prostitution.
She also spoke about how, after being lured with the promises of a luxurious lifestyle, she was then made to earn $1,000 (£780) to $3,000 (£2,300) a day or be forced to sleep on the streets, handing most of her money over to Torres.
Both families started campaigns claiming the pair were missing, and an FBI investigation ultimately led to Torres being arrested and charged.
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The BBC’s interview with Torres was almost as bizarre as the case itself, with her denying all charges against her or the idea she had ever coerced anyone to become sex workers and even laughing about the situation.
She stated that she was wrongfully imprisoned and, when pushed by the BBC about the fact she has no professional qualifications she said: “I never said one lie on the internet and I always told them if you come, come ready and prepared cause I will take you out of your box out of your comfort zone, there is no comeback, there is no money back, this is one thing I always said.”
She went on to state that she ‘hated’ people who had 'diplomas on the walls’, also claiming she ‘never’ gave mental health advice.
Torres claimed she often told clients she was a ‘holistic’ therapist meaning that she dealt with their ‘energy’. The only time she claims she dealt with client’s minds was ‘during hypnotism’.
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When asked about former clients who claim they feel ‘traumatised’ by her methods she said: “I have to say they are absolutely ridiculous and they need to run back to their parents.”
Asked about whether she takes ‘any accountability’ for allegations against her, she said: “Absolutely not. Zero.”
Like, Follow, Trafficked: Insta’s Fake Guru airs on BBC Two tonight, April 9.
Topics: True Crime, TV and Film, TV, BBC, Documentaries, World News, Crime
Michael Slavin