Instagram influencer Kat Torres, once romantically linked to actor Leonardo DiCaprio and known for her claims of spiritual predictions, has received an eight-year prison sentence.
The FBI investigated and confirmed her involvement in human trafficking and the enslavement of women. This investigation began after two women reported missing in 2022 while living with her, which sparked significant concern.
These women, drawn to Torres due to her rags-to-riches story from Brazil to Hollywood, shared their traumatic experiences with the BBC. They found her story credible because of her visibility in Brazilian media and her associations with celebrities like DiCaprio.
In New York, Torres reinvented herself through her Hollywood connections and the use of ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic drug. She became a wellness influencer, launching a website and subscription service promising love, wealth, and self-esteem. Her platform included self-help videos on relationships and business success, and she offered personal video consultations for $150, claiming to solve any problem.
The Harrowing Experiences of Followers
The harsh reality of her followers’ experiences surfaced with the story of Ana, who moved from Brazil to work as Torres’ live-in assistant. Escaping a troubled past, Ana took on domestic chores for $2,000 a month but found herself in a deplorable living situation without pay. Her employment under Torres involved relentless demands and minimal rest, forcing her to seek sleep in the building’s gym.
The situation deteriorated further when Torres and two other women, Desirre and Leticia, relocated to Texas for what was ostensibly a life-coaching retreat. This setting quickly turned into a controlling environment, where Torres pressured Desirre into stripping and later prostitution to meet earning quotas or risk being locked out of the house.
To diminish rising suspicions from their friends and family, who had launched social media campaigns to find them, Torres pressured the women to record videos denying they were held captive.
To date, more than 20 women have come forward accusing Torres of scamming or exploiting them, with many undergoing psychiatric therapy to recover from the ordeal. This case underscores a profound abuse of influence and trust within the wellness industry.
