A woman who worked as an assistant for Jeffrey Epstein has given a detailed account of the abuse, manipulation, and coercive control she says she endured while in the late financier's inner circle. Speaking to the BBC under the pseudonym Anya, she described being recruited in her early twenties after meeting modelling scout Daniel Siad in Paris, who introduced her to Epstein.
Lured with Promises of a Modelling Career
Anya claimed Epstein built her trust over months by offering career opportunities, then gradually took control of her finances, monitored her social contacts, dictated where she lived, and subjected her to repeated sexual abuse. 'He was like a cult leader,' she said. 'The chains were less obvious, but they were there.'
Psychological Manipulation and Coercive Control
According to Anya, Epstein psychologically manipulated the women working for him, encouraging competition among them while convincing each that he was their sole source of support. She alleged he pressured her into unnecessary surgery to remove a small tattoo because he disliked it, leaving permanent scars. He also gathered compromising material, including intimate photographs and videos, which she believed discouraged them from speaking out.
Forced to Recruit Other Young Women
Anya said she was eventually persuaded to recruit other young women, describing it as the 'most shameful' part of her experience. 'It's one or 10, you're already complicit,' she stated. Her allegations echo testimony from former Epstein assistant Sarah Kellen, who told the US House Oversight Committee earlier this year that Epstein destroyed her sense of autonomy and made her financially and emotionally dependent.
Epstein's Death and Anya's Motivation
Epstein died in a New York jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges; his death was ruled a suicide. Anya decided to speak publicly to help others recognise warning signs of coercive control. 'I'm not in any way special,' she said. 'I just somehow managed to find this strength in me to persevere and to survive. If I can do it, you can do it.'
