She was just 14 years of age when she got caught into trafficking. She recalls a bad, unhappy home situation; feeling like she had no other choice, she left. “I was very naive and unaware of what was going on,” she says. “I was trafficked from the time I was 14, until I was 23.” Most survivors say that reflecting back on their life of being trafficked it was hard to see what was actually going on, and most do not identify as a victim at the time. She explains that was the hardest concept to accept, that she was a victim.
She now is now in a good place and hoping that by her speaking out will raise awareness about this topic as well as speak to those whom are being exploited, and encourage them to get out. “My hope for those kids is that they find someone that they trust, that they can talk to,” she said. “You don’t always have to be a victim.”
If you, or anyone you know is being abused, exploited, trafficked, etc. you can contact:
1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) – National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
1 (888) 373-7888 – National Human Trafficking Hotline
or text, 233733 (Text “HELP” or “INFO”)