Epstein survivor reflects on healing and the release of files

After publicly sharing her experiences on Capitol Hill over a year ago and advocating for the release of the Epstein files, Phillips says she feels significantly better than she did previously. “I have a lot of answered questions, things that I was really curious about since my early 20s,” she explained. She credits this process with helping her reclaim her sense of power.

Phillips, one of hundreds of Epstein survivors, first encountered the disgraced financier in 2000 while working as a model. She describes a pattern of grooming and abuse that persisted for years, finally ending in 2004. The recent release of millions of documents related to Epstein has brought a sense of validation, though she notes that many survivors’ personal information was not redacted.

“Everything that I had known was in those files, so it validated it all for me,” Phillips said. “But many of my survivor sisters’ names weren’t redacted — their addresses, their emails, pictures. It was pretty dirty what they did to them.”

While the US Department of Justice asserts that all significant records have been released, debate continues regarding the completeness of the disclosure. Phillips believes there is much more to uncover.

Regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s death in August 2019, Phillips rejects the official ruling of suicide. “Absolutely not. No way,” she asserted. “I don’t believe he killed himself because I just felt like he always knew that he would get away with it.”

In a surprising reflection, Phillips shared a thought she and other survivors had: that Epstein, were he alive, might be “proud” of their activism. “It’s almost like we think he would say, ‘Wow, you didn’t just stay silent, you’re standing up for yourselves.’ He groomed us to think of him… as a mentor type.”

Phillips is now focusing on her podcast, From Now On, where she interviews survivors and experts to address the global issue of sexual abuse. She encourages young people to speak out against abuse and prioritize their mental health. “If something happens to you … immediately go tell somebody,” she advises.

Despite identifying as an “Epstein survivor,” Phillips is looking forward to the future and finding purpose in supporting others. “It makes me feel really good changing lives, seeing them getting into a healthy relationship and having a beautiful life,” she said.