Materials from the case of convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein show that his associates sought contacts with young girls, including in the Latvian modeling industry, through specific agencies.
The well-known agency "Natalie" plays the most significant role in the Latvian context. On November 29, 2009, Epstein's agent Siad wrote: "I had a great casting organized by my old friend, the owner of the agency 'Nathalie Model Management' in Riga. His name is Erik. I haven't seen him for 10 years, so it was very nice to meet again." This refers to Erik Meisans, the head of the "Natalie" modeling agency, who now denies knowing Siad.
At that time, several parallel correspondences were taking place, discussing a possible trip for the Latvian girl Sandra to Miami. Epstein wanted the girl named Sandra to be in Miami from December 16 to 18. This episode is particularly important as it clearly shows that a trip to Epstein was planned for a girl from the Latvian modeling agency. Siad was trying to organize a photo shoot for Sandra.
"Can a meeting with a photographer be arranged for a test photo shoot so that she returns with at least a few photos? Then it will be good for both us and her agency," Siad wrote to Epstein on December 10, 2009. Now, the head of the "Natalie" agency does not remember who Sandra is, but he is sure that the girl did not travel to the United States. "Natalie" is not the only Latvian modeling agency mentioned in Epstein's files. Epstein, through his subordinates, was also looking for victims in the "2B models" agency.
Over the years, both the regulation of the modeling industry and the industry itself have changed. Brands now have other ways to sell their products - through influencers, whom they can contact directly. "Girls are messaged on Instagram. Then we need to introduce a rule so that minors cannot use Instagram," says Ieva Lipiņa, former head of the "Vacatio" modeling agency.
