Before Facebook bought Instagram, it was much cleaner. It also had restrictions set on questionable content. Now, any kid with a phone can scroll through thousands of accounts that post soft porn. As long as emojis are barely covering someone’s parts, it doesn’t violate Instagram’s standards.

Have you ever seen a group of girls sporting skimpy bikinis on a gorgeous yacht? Or that “model” who continually posts thong and hand-bra pics and is ALWAYS traveling to the most exotic (and expensive) places?

I always used to wonder, “How does she have so much money?” Flights alone are expensive, not to mention her designer shoes and Celine sunglasses. Do you ever notice that she never posts a photo of who she’s with? There’s a reason for that.

Enter Instagram Prostitution.

Note: Everything you’re about to read is not speculation. The things I'm about to tell you were told to me by professionals in the modeling industry over the past two years, from make-up artists to the models themselves. I’ve removed the names of the models and agencies for anonymity’s sake.

Atmosphere Models

Have you ever heard of an atmosphere model? There are two types. Sometimes, models are booked to be “atmosphere,” to elevate the vibe of a party with their beautiful presence to make the host/client look good and to give the illusion that all the pretty girls go there. It’s big in New York and Los Angeles, and a lot of times agency models will get booked to do it through their agency. It’s easy money, and the girls generally stick together.

However, there is a different kind of “atmosphere model.” This girl is usually booked by a guy or even a woman (a modern-day Madame) to go to dinner with older men and get paid. These girls typically aren’t agency signed and will get $100-200 cash to enjoy a dinner with much older men. This is a huge thing in Las Vegas. If you live in Los Angeles, there’s a chance you’ve seen a billboard advertising a certain app for models on Sunset Blvd.

I was on set with another model for an ad campaign when I first heard about this kind of escort. During a break, I was showing her photos of my husband (then fiancé) and talking about our relationship. She teared up and said I was doing everything right and that she wished she had a life with a guy she loved. When I asked her why she did the dinners regularly, she said, “It felt really weird at first. I try not to think about it too much because it makes me feel guilty, but it’s easy money.”

It felt really weird at first. I try not to think about it too much because it makes me feel guilty, but it’s easy money.

After the girls do it for a while, the familiar men start asking for more...and then a little more. Eventually, those women make over $1,000 a night in exchange for sexual acts.

Sliding into Your DMs

This is the most common way Instagram prostitution is initiated. Usually, a guy slides into your DMs. Apparently, the most common prospect is either a younger, attractive, middle-eastern man or an older middle-eastern man. He will ask if you’re available on specific dates to come party with him or his client on a luxurious trip. The rate is high, anywhere from $2,000 - $10,000, and sometimes higher.

The location is generally somewhere like Dubai or Bali, where girls are flown out to party for a week with a prince. To hear more info, the contact asks you to use WhatsApp so the conversation can’t be tracked. Everything is done over WhatsApp or Signal. While on the trip, guys expect much more and pay extra for sexual favors. Sometimes it’s alluded to during the arrangement, sometimes it's agreed to beforehand. But in most cases, sex is just expected. Comply, or you don’t get a plane ticket home...

Sometimes you’re asked if you’re available for a local “dinner” in LA or Las Vegas. The rate can be anywhere from $2,000 - $5,000 and up a night, and sexual acts are expected. If you don’t comply, the “pimp/madame” (or your contact) will freak out and not pay you anything. What does this madame look like? She’s usually seen flying in a private jet posting about being a girl boss while making a commission off each “date.” If you’re not willing to be used as an escort, the contact will ask if any of your hot model friends are interested. If they are, you’re told, you’ll get a small finder’s fee per model (aka pimping out your friends).

Your Favorite Instagram Model May Be a Prostitute

At a shoot, a source started showing me all the models who were prostitutes. Many of them had huge followings. High six figures, even millions. “But why would she be a prostitute? She’s signed with !” I exclaimed. “Models generally make decent money, especially those with that kind of following.” The source laughed. “Most models in LA, if they’re lucky, will make $2K for a shoot. But someone in Dubai will fly her out to sleep with him for $20K. What do you think she’d choose?”

I was baffled. But then it all started to make sense. Sure, some models with big followings can make hundreds or thousands per post marketing products. But many brands aren’t lining up to jump into bed with a model whose page is not far from a modern Playboy spread. To be clear, there are MANY legitimate bloggers and influencers who make a living traveling and creating content for hotels and brands in exchange for complimentary stays or fees. Those are not the people I'm talking about. The easiest way to differentiate? The borderline pornographic content they post. These pages, full of sexual teasers, are their advertisements. Their honeypots. Their portfolios, if you will.

Conclusion

Instagram can be a great tool for keeping in touch with friends and seeing beautiful places you dream of visiting. It can also be used as a legitimate source of income for influencers and entrepreneurs who create engaging content. But the dark truth is that it’s also a haven for girls literally selling sex for money.

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