Juicy Crimes with Heather McDonald
Episode: The Dark Side Of The Modeling World
Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Heather McDonald
Guest: Barbara Adler, former model
Overview
This episode explores the “dark side” of the modeling industry through the candid and gripping testimony of Barbara Adler, a former high-profile model. Heather and Barbara delve into the crimes, exploitation, and psychological toll behind the glamour, examining issues like bullying, sexual abuse, human trafficking, blackmail, and the complicity of powerful individuals and agencies. The episode also covers high-profile linked scandals, personal survival stories, and offers cautionary advice to aspiring models.
Main Topics & Key Discussion Points
1. Barbara’s Initiation into Modeling
- Early Discovery (01:13 – 01:58):
- Barbara was discovered at age 10 in Houston by photographer Bruce Weber.
- “I was in a theater… Bruce Weber discovered me… I was in New York shooting Ralph Lauren as a 10 year old.” – Barbara [01:35]
- Barbara was discovered at age 10 in Houston by photographer Bruce Weber.
- Disruption of Childhood/School (02:20 – 02:26):
- Missed significant school for modeling gigs.
- Suffered intense bullying and physical attacks from peers due to her modeling career.
- “Girls were terrible. I was bullied for six years. Jumped.” – Barbara [02:31]
2. The Price of Success: Bullying, Fame, and Sacrifice
- School Bullying & Isolation (04:18 – 06:13):
- Was targeted, beaten, moved to private school:
- “They started being mean… I was jumped in the bathroom a few times, beat up. I had black eyes.” – Barbara [05:09]
- Felt isolated aside from a few close ‘nerdy’ friends.
- Did not believe herself to be ‘special’—depersonalization in the face of fame.
- Was targeted, beaten, moved to private school:
3. Transition to High Fashion & Industry Pressures
- Navigating the Runway and Iconic Shoots (07:28 – 08:54):
- Landed the cover of Cosmopolitan at 17; experienced problematic pressure to change her appearance (cutting her virgin hair on set).
- “Oribe… said, if you want to make it, you need to cut your hair.” – Barbara [08:38]
- Landed the cover of Cosmopolitan at 17; experienced problematic pressure to change her appearance (cutting her virgin hair on set).
- Weight and Lifestyle Pressures (09:17 – 10:30):
- While others starved, Barbara had to eat to meet weight requirements.
- Faced increasing agency pressure to pose nude, even at age 15.
- “I also started noticing…the agency, my booker would start pushing me to do certain jobs nude…As 15, I was very uncomfortable.” – Barbara [09:54]
4. Abuse and Exploitation in the Industry
- Sexual Predation by Photographers (11:03 – 13:33):
- Details of being fondled by renowned photographer Patrick Demarchelier at 15, escaping through a bathroom window.
- “He started touching my breast, kind of fondling me…So I just crawled out the window at the studio.” – Barbara [12:20]
- Agency response was indifferent; Barbara was told to return for scheduled bookings, never worked for him again.
- “I felt like I couldn’t work anymore if I didn’t say yes. So my timeline from 15 to 20 was…a dark time.” – Barbara [14:02]
- Details of being fondled by renowned photographer Patrick Demarchelier at 15, escaping through a bathroom window.
- Nudity and Coercion Across Big Brands (10:13 – 10:30):
- Nude or semi-nude shoots were routine requirements, even for mainstream brands like Maybelline and Victoria’s Secret.
- “You have to do all the editorial jobs…they make you get nude, and they put you in situations where you’re not comfortable in.” – Barbara [10:24]
- Nude or semi-nude shoots were routine requirements, even for mainstream brands like Maybelline and Victoria’s Secret.
5. The Yacht and Party Culture
- Model Parties & Sugar Daddy Scenarios (15:10 – 19:00):
- Models (some underage) were routinely invited to luxury dinners, parties, and yachts with older men—often high up at luxury brands.
- “They invite you to dinners…uncomfortable and you know what’s going on after the dinners.” – Barbara [15:31]
- Gifts and luxury items (Chanel bags, cars, apartments) were given in exchange for company and often sexual favors.
- FBI involvement in reclaiming gifts given by billionaires involved in criminal activity.
- “A lot of the Victoria’s Secret models…got in trouble. FBI showed up and told them to give all their stuff back.” – Barbara [18:26]
- Models (some underage) were routinely invited to luxury dinners, parties, and yachts with older men—often high up at luxury brands.
6. The Epstein Connection & Human Trafficking
- First-hand Witness to High-Profile Exploitation (19:16 – 23:44):
- Attended parties at Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan house.
- Described seeing models subjected to humiliation and blackmail (e.g., defecating on tables for photos).
- “He had models there defecating on the tables…Terry Richardson was shooting them under the table…Now they’re owned.” – Barbara [19:47 & 20:21]
- Outlined the MC2 agency pipeline: Eastern European girls brought on visa, isolated, surveilled, and exploited.
- “They already own you…put me in an apartment and they’re watching me with cameras…That’s how it works.” – Barbara [23:50]
- Agency Fraud, Wage Theft & Systemic Exploitation (24:30 – 26:35):
- Agencies often withheld money, forced attendance at parties—Barbara had to sue just to be paid.
- “They never paid me…They gave me a credit card to go shopping with…The accountant got put in jail for embezzlement.” – Barbara [24:33]
- Switched to a smaller agency focused on catalog work to escape predatory culture.
- Agencies often withheld money, forced attendance at parties—Barbara had to sue just to be paid.
7. Conspiracies & Theories: Epstein and Elite Complicity
- Epstein’s Fate (28:28 – 30:54):
- Barbara does not believe Epstein died by suicide; theorizes he was a Mossad/CIA asset who faked his death.
- “He’s CIA, Mossad agent…I think he’s definitely alive.” – Barbara [28:50]
- Barbara does not believe Epstein died by suicide; theorizes he was a Mossad/CIA asset who faked his death.
- Hollywood & High Society Complicity (31:00 – 35:20):
- Agencies complicit in setting up young models with powerful men.
- Socializing with Epstein remained common post-conviction; celebrities often rationalized ties.
- “Everywhere I went there were such underage girls everywhere…celebrities there…it’s a chill party.” – Barbara [33:06]
8. Human Trafficking via Celebrities & The Fate of Friends
- Barbara’s Friend’s Trafficking Story, Naomi Campbell (35:39 – 39:51):
- Best friend was trafficked by supermodel Naomi Campbell.
- “She was human trafficked by Naomi Campbell…Naomi brings you to parties, connects you with men…she gets funded.” – Barbara [35:46, 39:26]
- Cycle of exploitation, drugging, and sexual assault endured by young women.
- Best friend was trafficked by supermodel Naomi Campbell.
9. The Business of Fame, Kardashians, and Modern Modeling
- The Mechanics of Power & Honeytrap Strategies (47:43 – 48:30):
- Discussion of “honeypots”—women used as bait to entrap and blackmail powerful men.
- “Honey pot is like a Marilyn Monroe…she lures women in for the men.” – Barbara [47:55]
- Discussion of “honeypots”—women used as bait to entrap and blackmail powerful men.
- Media, Fame, and Social Climbing (49:28 – 54:22):
- Debating the authenticity of celebrity relationships (e.g., Jennifer Lopez & Sean Combs, Kardashians).
- The Kardashians as an example of leveraging relationships to build a business empire; discussion on why they continue reality TV despite reaching billionaire status.
10. Changes in the Industry: Is it Safer Today?
- Shift in Standards & Protections (57:59 – 61:31):
- Industry now somewhat safer: more oversight, electronic documentation, fewer “casting couch” situations.
- “I think now it’s a little bit safer because there’s so many cameras watching you…You shouldn’t be going to [strange auditions].” – Barbara [59:50, 60:07]
- Industry now somewhat safer: more oversight, electronic documentation, fewer “casting couch” situations.
- Advice to Aspiring Models (61:31 – 62:01):
- Importance of education, parental presence, and having support systems.
- “Always have your parents behind you. People see you in a different light: she’s protected.” – Barbara [61:56]
- Importance of education, parental presence, and having support systems.
11. Sexual Coercion’s Link to Contracts and Modeling Work
- Diddy/Sean Combs “After Party” Ultimatum (62:01 – 64:35):
- Lost contract for Sean John brand after declining to attend the “after party.”
- “If you stay for the party…I'll renew the contract. I go, I don't roll like that.” – Barbara [63:21]
- Agent’s complacency in the situation—“Why didn’t you stay?”—spotlights normalcy of coercion.
- Ultimately, relief for not accepting those terms in light of later scandals.
- Lost contract for Sean John brand after declining to attend the “after party.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Early Exposure:
“At 10 years old…Bruce Weber discovered me…and the next thing you know, I was in New York shooting Ralph Lauren as a 10 year old.”
— Barbara Adler [01:35] -
On Bullying:
“Girls were terrible. I was bullied for six years. Jumped.”
— Barbara Adler [02:31] -
On Sexual Abuse by a Photographer:
“He started touching my breast, kind of fondling me…So I just crawled out the window at the studio.”
— Barbara Adler [12:20] -
On the Industry's Underbelly:
“My timeline from 15 to 20 was…a dark time.”
— Barbara Adler [14:02] -
On Blackmail Parties:
“He had models there defecating on the tables…Terry Richardson was shooting them under the table…Now they’re owned.”
— Barbara Adler [19:47 & 20:21] -
On Agency Fraud:
“They gave me a credit card to go shopping with…I had to sue them eventually to try to get all the money they owed me back…The accountant got put in jail for embezzlement.”
— Barbara Adler [24:33] -
On Honey Trap Schemes:
“Honey pot is like a Marilyn Monroe…she lures women in for the men. And they have an ulterior motive to…blackmail the man.”
— Barbara Adler [47:55] -
On Parental Support:
“Always have your parents behind you. People see you in a different light: she’s protected.”
— Barbara Adler [61:56] -
On Agency Complicity:
“The agency would let us know…Hey, so and so is asking about you…The agents must know. They must know.”
— Barbara Adler [31:29] -
On Turning Down Diddy's Party:
“If you stay for the party…I'll renew the contract. I go, I don't roll like that.”
— Barbara Adler [63:21]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [01:13] – Discovery & Early Modeling
- [04:18 – 06:13] – Bullying at School
- [09:17 – 10:30] – Pressure for Nudity, Industry Standards
- [11:03 – 13:33] – Sexual Misconduct by Photographers
- [15:10 – 19:00] – Yacht Parties, “Yacht Girls” & Gifts
- [19:16 – 23:44] – Epstein’s House, Blackmail Photoshoots, MC2 Trafficking
- [24:30 – 26:35] – Agency Wage Theft & Exploitative Parties
- [28:28 – 30:54] – Epstein’s Fate & Mossad/CIA Theories
- [35:39 – 39:51] – Story of Barbara’s Friend & Naomi Campbell’s Alleged Trafficking
- [47:43 – 48:30] – ‘Honeypots’, Blackmail, The Kardashians as Fame Strategy
- [57:59 – 61:31] – Changes in Safety, Rise of Social Media
- [62:01 – 64:35] – Sean Combs “After Party” Story
Tone & Final Takeaways
The tone is candid, unvarnished, and at times conspiratorial, with Barbara's testimony underlining both her trauma and resilience. Through their conversation, Heather balances shock, sympathy, humor, and skepticism, providing space for Barbara’s detailed stories while probing the absurdities and heartbreak of the modeling industry.
Big Takeaways:
- The modeling world is rife with exploitation, sexual abuse, and blackmail, often enabled by agencies and connected to broader, high-profile criminal networks.
- Vulnerability is greatest for young, foreign, and unaccompanied models.
- Speaking out and seeking community, legal recourse, and family support are key.
- The glamor of modeling is a smokescreen that hides intense psychological and physical dangers.
Where to Find Barbara
- Brand: Malibu Cozy (COZEE)
- Instagram: @Ms.BarbaraAdler1
“Hold your integrity, hold your…They would appreciate you more if you hold your ground. I think you'd be more respected as a person, you know?”
— Barbara Adler [60:08]