An alleged survivor of disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has shared a harrowing account of how she says she was trafficked from South Africa after being promised a modelling career in the United States.
Juliette Bryant, now 43, spoke in recent interviews about how she first encountered Epstein in 2002 when she was a 20-year-old psychology and philosophy student in Cape Town who also worked part-time as a model. According to Bryant, what began as an exciting opportunity quickly turned into what she describes as a nightmare.
Bryant said she met Epstein after a woman approached her during a night out and offered to introduce her to what she described as a “powerful American figure.” The woman allegedly claimed that Epstein was in South Africa with prominent personalities, including former US President Bill Clinton, actor Kevin Spacey, and comedian Chris Tucker, suggesting that meeting them could boost Bryant’s modelling career.
Bryant said she briefly met the group at a Cape Town restaurant but stressed that she does not accuse Clinton, Spacey, or Tucker of any wrongdoing, and that her interaction with them lasted only a few minutes.
The following day, she reportedly received a call informing her that Epstein wanted to see her modelling portfolio. Bryant recalled being told that she had the potential to work for major brands, including Victoria’s Secret. She said Epstein’s associates assured her that travel expenses would be deducted from future earnings, easing her financial concerns.
Within weeks, arrangements were made for her US visa and flights. Bryant described the speed of the process as unusual, noting that visa approvals typically take much longer in South Africa. Nonetheless, she travelled to New York, believing she was embarking on a legitimate modelling opportunity.
Shortly after arriving in the United States, Bryant said she was informed that she would be travelling onward to the Caribbean. She was driven to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and boarded a private jet, where Epstein was allegedly waiting.
Bryant stated that once aboard, her passport was taken and she was sexually assaulted as the plane took off. She described the moment as the point when she realised she was not heading to a modelling assignment but had been deceived.
She was subsequently transported to Epstein’s private island, where she claims she was isolated and had no means of escape. According to Bryant, her passport remained confiscated, and the island’s remote location made it impossible for her to leave on her own.
Over the following years, Bryant alleges that she was repeatedly abused. She said she was not trafficked to other men but remained under Epstein’s control, encountering him daily during her time at various properties. She also described being flown to residences in New York, Palm Beach, Paris, and New Mexico, where she said she saw other women and underage girls from multiple countries.
In a separate interview, Bryant spoke about what she described as psychological manipulation and control. She likened the experience to being “handcuffed invisibly,” explaining that fear, isolation, and emotional coercion kept her silent for years. She said she did not tell her family or friends about the alleged abuse until after Epstein’s death.
Epstein died in August 2019 while awaiting trial in a New York federal jail on sex-trafficking charges. His death sparked widespread controversy and renewed scrutiny of his network and associates.
Bryant later received compensation through the Epstein Victims’ Compensation Program in 2020 and reached a separate settlement with JPMorgan Chase in 2023. However, she said the release of court documents, including personal emails she had sent to Epstein years later, has been deeply distressing.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Bryant said she continues to grapple with the psychological aftermath and the public scrutiny that followed the high-profile case. She described the experience as something that still affects her profoundly, adding that the alleged control she endured has left lasting emotional scars.
