A woman who says she was drugged and raped by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has spoken publicly for the first time about her experience in an extensive interview with BBC Newsnight. The woman, who asked to remain anonymous and is referred to as Nicky by the BBC, revealed chilling details of her encounter with Epstein and her ongoing struggle for justice and healing.
Nicky first met Epstein when she was 19 years old and working as a model. She described how their initial interaction began with a massage at Epstein's waterfront mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. Epstein asked her to remove her top and bra during the massage, which she initially accepted, thinking it was just an eccentric request from a wealthy older man. "I honestly thought, OK, maybe it's just an old rich guy that has a fetish and so be it," she said. At the time, the arrangement helped pay her rent.
However, when Nicky returned to see Epstein a few weeks later, the situation changed drastically. She recounted that as she gave him another massage, Epstein began to pull at her jeans, attempting to unbutton them. Although she told him she was on her period-a lie intended to discourage him-he pressed her to have sex with him and masturbated in front of her. Feeling alarmed, Nicky quickly dressed and went to the bathroom to wash the massage oil from her hands. When she returned, Epstein offered her a glass of water, which she accepted.
After drinking the water, Nicky said she blacked out for at least 12 hours. When she regained consciousness, she felt sick, sluggish, and heavy. She noticed physical signs suggesting she had been sexually assaulted but had no memory of the events. "I have done various psychotherapies to try to remember, to try and have a glimpse of something, and it's black, I have no idea," she explained. Based on what she does remember and what she can logically infer, Nicky believes Epstein drugged and raped her during that blackout period.
Later that day, when Nicky encountered Epstein again, he asked her to give him one more massage before she left. During this encounter, he once again attempted to pull down her jeans. When she repeated the claim that she was on her period, Epstein responded, "You don't have to lie to me, [Nicky]." This statement confirmed to her that Epstein knew she was not menstruating-knowledge she believes he could only have gained from sexually assaulting her while she was unconscious.
The trauma of the experience has had a profound impact on Nicky's life. She recalled dark thoughts about her worth and whether her children would be better off without her. "I don't know how I made it," she said, reflecting on her survival.
Nicky was motivated to come forward by hearing other survivors share their stories. She is now calling on the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to release all remaining files related to Epstein's case. In November, legislation known as the Epstein Transparency Act was signed into law by then-President Donald Trump, requiring the DOJ to make public all materials from its investigations into Epstein. Millions of documents were released, but the agency faced bipartisan criticism for failing to properly redact identifying information of survivors while protecting non-victims. Approximately two million files have yet to be released.
Nicky expressed frustration that this transparency only came about due to an act of Congress, calling it a "complete waste" of taxpayer dollars. She also criticized the name of the law itself, arguing that it continues to glorify Epstein rather than focus on the survivors. "Why don't you name it the Survivors [Act] or the Virginia Transparency Act or something?" she said. "But no, we're gonna go ahead and continue to glorify this horrific, disgusting person who is a complete monster."
Regarding the unreleased files, Nicky emphasized the importance of their release in a manner that is "properly, honestly, ethically" handled. "I don't think that's too much to ask," she said. "I would love for us to be able to heal."
However, Nicky also described how the constant media attention and political discourse surrounding Epstein and his crimes make it difficult for survivors to move forward. She said the relentless coverage-whether on social media, magazine covers, or news channels-forces survivors to relive their trauma repeatedly. "We survivors are nothing more than pawns for political discourse at this point, and it's disgusting," she said.
Nicky's interview offers a rare and powerful insight into the experience of a survivor of Epstein's abuse. Her courage in speaking out contributes to the ongoing conversation about accountability, transparency, and support for victims of sexual violence. The full interview is available for UK viewers on BBC Two's Newsnight program and on BBC iPlayer, alongside other conversations with Epstein survivors.
This public testimony underscores the urgent need for justice and healing for those affected by Epstein's crimes, as well as the importance of releasing all relevant information to the public in a way that protects survivors' privacy and dignity.