The allegations of sexual harassment against the film producer Harvey Weinstein have launched a ripple effect in Hollywood, with a number of actors coming forward to speak about their experiences of sexual assault and harassment.
However, the disturbing pattern of sexual abuse revealed by the scandal is not confined to the film industry.
On Thursday, model Cameron Russell began sharing harrowing stories of sexual harassment other models say they have experienced in the fashion world on Instagram.
In her first post, Russell recounted the story of a model friend who claimed she was abused when she was 15 during a test shoot with a photographer. Because the photographer is still working in the fashion industry, Russell explained, her friend wanted to speak up so others might feel empowered to do the same, but wished to remain anonymous.
Ed note: Some people will find this content disturbing.
During the shoot, the model claims the photographer touched her vagina. She said her stepmother was on the shoot with her, but in another room at the time.
"She had no idea he put his fingers deep down in my v few times [sic] as he was shooting pics of me, saying this will make pics look more sensual," she wrote.
In the caption of her post, Cameron called for others in the industry to share their own stories anonymously by messaging her directly or publicly with the hashtag #MyJobShouldNotIncludeAbuse to raise awareness of sexual assault.
"We need a way to begin breaking the silence while remaining protected. We are not talking about one, five, or even twenty men. We are talking about a culture of exploitation and it must stop," she wrote, adding that, "Hearing about #harveyweinstein this week has sparked conversations about how widespread and how familiar his behavior is."
Russell has since shared over 40 posts that allege other instances of sexual abuse from models, both men and women, as well as a female photographer.
One model claims a photographer tried to push her into giving him oral sex during a test shoot, and even told her that it was "part of the audition." She said the altercation has left her feeling "ashamed."
Another model, whose gender is unclear, said they were at a party when a female editor approached them for a "nude" photo and a male photographer volunteered to take the picture.
Someone else in the industry claims that she was 16 when a photographer assaulted her. She alleges that he touched her vagina after he instructed her to remove her clothes.
One model said that her agency put pressure on her to maintain a good relationship with a photographer who had tried to sleep with her.
Another said that she was underage when a well-known photographer asked her to pose naked, and he allegedly told her that "nothing would happen if he didn't publish" the images.
Russell also posted a screenshot of an email she received, warning her about a photographer who was "a little flirty and aggressive."
While many other models shared disturbing experiences they've had, including being told to strip naked and dealing with sexual advances from photographers, it's not just models who have reported facing harassment in the industry.
A female photographer sent Russell her story about another photographer who she claims tried to kiss her, and told her to leave her boyfriend.
In the caption of Russell's first post in her ongoing series, she discussed how difficult it can be to open up about sexual assault.
"When [that behavior is] the norm, calling [it] out can feel disruptive and unprofessional," she wrote. "On many occasions I've been called a feminist for reporting unwanted groping, spanking, pinching, pressure for dates, phone calls and texts of a sexual nature, lack of appropriate changing areas, etc. And because the response has always been 'are you surprised?' or 'that's part of the job' I tolerated them."
She continued: "When the offenses were bigger, calling them out is terrifying, and demands a level of exposure and backlash to what is already painful and sometimes shameful."
The model's growing number of Instagram posts alleging instances of sexual harassment point to a problem that is present not just in Hollywood and the fashion world, but in many other industries. Hopefully, these stories will inspire others to speak out and put an end to such abuse.
To read more stories from Russell's posts, visit her Instagram page here.
If you are a victim of sexual assault, you can visit RAINN or call its hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to receive confidential support from a trained staff member.
Source: A model is posting shocking reports of sexual assault and harassment by photographers — and it shows how widespread the problem really is
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