Kat Torres, a former Brazilian model and fitness influencer based in the United States, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for human trafficking and enslaving one woman, according to the BBC World Service. The investigation into Torres began in 2022 when two women who lived with her were reported missing.
Torres, previously linked to celebrity Leonardo DiCaprio, was found guilty of trafficking and enslaving Desirre, one of her former clients. Following this conviction, numerous other victims have come forward with allegations against Torres, claiming that she trafficked and sold them into slavery.
In an interview with the BBC, several women recounted how they were drawn to Torres’ narrative of transformation from poverty in Brazil to a life of wealth and celebrity connections in Hollywood. Ana, one of the victims, described her initial impression of Torres’ Instagram profile in 2017: “She kind of resembled hope for me,” she said, impressed by Torres’ spirituality and success.
Torres’ autobiography, A Voz (The Voice), claims she possesses supernatural abilities, which she used to attract followers. She established a wellness website offering videos on hypnosis, meditation, fitness, and life coaching. For an additional $150, clients could book private video sessions with Torres, who claimed to solve any problem they had.
Amanda, another former client, told the BBC that Torres made her feel special and included her in all major decisions. However, both Amanda and Ana, along with other former followers, noticed they were becoming isolated from their loved ones and increasingly dependent on Torres.
Ana, a nutrition student in Boston, was hired by Torres as a live-in helper for $2,000 per month but found herself working without pay in unsanitary conditions. “Now, I see that she was using me as a slave… she had satisfaction in it,” Ana said.
Torres then employed Desirre and Leticia under the guise of a life coaching retreat, bringing them to her Texas home. Desirre was coerced into working at a strip club, with Torres threatening her to repay money spent on airfare, lodging, and “witchcraft” services. Fearing Torres’ claimed supernatural powers, Desirre complied, making a payment of over $21,000 to Torres in mid-2022.
In September, friends and family of Desirre and Leticia in Brazil launched social media campaigns to find them after months of no contact. Ana, who had lived with Torres in 2019, recognized the red flags and contacted law enforcement, including the FBI, along with other ex-clients to seek justice.
Investigators were immediately concerned during their questioning of Torres, Desirre, and Leticia due to their reluctance to speak without Torres’ permission. Despite Torres’ claims of innocence and denial of any wrongdoing, a Brazilian judge sentenced her to eight years for enslaving and trafficking Desirre. Investigations into allegations by more than 20 other women are ongoing in Brazil.
