Roza Gilles has broken years of silence to reveal a disturbing allegation that Jeffrey Epstein abused her when she was an 18-year-old aspiring model—while he was already a convicted sex offender serving a controversial jail sentence.
The former model from Uzbekistan claims she was drawn into Epstein's world through promises of a modelling career before she became one of the young women who say they were exploited by him.
Her account has reignited questions over how Epstein continued to have access to vulnerable young women despite his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor and the unusually lenient conditions of his sentence.
Gilles told CNN that Epstein's conviction did not stop his alleged behaviour, saying: 'He didn't stop what he was doing while convicted. He was doing the same thing.'
Her allegations have brought fresh attention to the failures that allowed Epstein to maintain influence and access to young women despite years of scrutiny.
A Young Model Drawn Into Epstein's Circle
Gilles said she was 18 when she left Uzbekistan after being approached with promises of modelling opportunities in the United States.
She believed she was beginning a career in fashion, but says the opportunity eventually led her into Epstein's network. According to her account, she was introduced through people connected to the modelling industry, including Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modelling agent who had longstanding ties to Epstein.
Gilles described arriving in America with hopes of building a better future, but says she quickly became vulnerable due to financial difficulties, immigration concerns, and her reliance on people who claimed they could help her career.
She alleges that what appeared to be professional opportunities ultimately brought her into Epstein's orbit.
The timing of her claims has drawn particular scrutiny because Gilles says the alleged abuse occurred while Epstein was already serving an 18-month jail sentence in Florida following his 2008 guilty plea to charges related to soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Rather than serving his sentence entirely behind bars, Epstein was allowed to participate in a controversial work-release programme. The arrangement allowed him to leave custody during the day to work from an office before returning to jail at night.
The decision became one of the most criticised aspects of the case, with many questioning how Epstein was able to maintain such freedom despite his conviction.
@cnn Exclusive: Roza Gilles was an 18-year-old model from Uzbekistan when she began working at Jeffrey Epstein’s Florida Science Foundation office in Palm Beach. Unbeknownst to her at the time, Epstein was serving jail time when he began abusing her. Roza shared her story for the first time with CNN.
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Survivor Speaks Out About Lasting Trauma
Gilles said she remained silent about her experience for years before deciding to share her story publicly.
Reflecting on the impact of the alleged abuse, she said: 'The things he was doing to me hurt me so much, and left the biggest scar, and I will never, I will never be able to move on from this, no matter how hard I try.'
Her account follows testimony from other Epstein survivors who have described being targeted when they were young, vulnerable, and seeking opportunities.
The case has also raised wider concerns about the fashion industry and the way aspiring models can be exposed to powerful individuals who promise access to careers and opportunities.
Epstein's criminal history is well documented. He pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges involving prostitution and a minor and was later arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving minors. He died in a New York jail that year before his trial could take place.
While Epstein's conviction and criminal history are established facts, Gilles' allegations are claims that have not been tested in court.
Her decision to speak publicly has placed renewed focus on the systems, individuals, and institutions that survivors say failed to protect young women.
For Gilles, breaking her silence is about ensuring her experience is recognised and adding her voice to those demanding accountability over one of the most notorious abuse cases of recent decades.
