Isabella, a 17-year-old single mother, was approached by a sexcam studio while leaving school, plunging her into an industry rife with risks and exploitation.
As she stepped out of her school in Bogotá one day, 17-year-old Isabella received an enticing leaflet asking her, "Do you want to make money with your beauty?" Facing the tough reality of single motherhood and the need to support her two-year-old son, Isabella felt compelled to explore this opportunity.
She walked into a sexcam studio run out of a house in a rundown neighborhood, a place that operated in a legal gray area, especially concerning the hiring of minors. With no written contracts or guidance, Isabella quickly found herself performing live shows for viewers worldwide, even streaming from her school under the cover of going to the bathroom.
In Colombia, where the sexcam industry has exploded, estimates suggest there are up to 400,000 models and 12,000 studios. The proliferation of such platforms has been alarming, with monthly views surpassing 1.3 billion worldwide as of April 2025.
Faced with a lack of economic prospects or secure environments, many young models, like Isabella and another model known as Keiny, find themselves at the mercy of their studios, which promise them financial freedom but often fail to deliver on that promise. Issues arise when studios improperly use fake identities to sidestep age regulations, an exploitation tactic that leaves young girls vulnerable to further abuse.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has described studio owners as "slave masters," bringing attention to the unethical practices within this booming industry. Models report some studios using recycled accounts of older performers to allow underage girls to work illegally, while platforms such as Chaturbate, BongaCams, StripChat, and LiveJasmin claim to have implemented checks to prevent the employment of minors.
Despite the substantial earnings potential, many models say they struggle to make a living wage, often receiving as little as $5 for long hours of work. They describe an environment rife with both physical and psychological pressures where they are coerced to perform acts they are uncomfortable with.
Some studios present themselves as supportive, offering benefits like mental health support and beauty treatments, yet stories of exploitation and abuse persist. For models like Sofi, 26, and Isabella, who have endured significant trauma while trying to support their families, the allure of quick money has often translated into painful experiences overshadowed by manipulation and exploitation.
As these challenges gain visibility, advocacy for stricter regulations surrounding the sexcam industry is on the horizon, aiming to protect vulnerable individuals from falling prey to a complex web of exploitation.
As she stepped out of her school in Bogotá one day, 17-year-old Isabella received an enticing leaflet asking her, "Do you want to make money with your beauty?" Facing the tough reality of single motherhood and the need to support her two-year-old son, Isabella felt compelled to explore this opportunity.
She walked into a sexcam studio run out of a house in a rundown neighborhood, a place that operated in a legal gray area, especially concerning the hiring of minors. With no written contracts or guidance, Isabella quickly found herself performing live shows for viewers worldwide, even streaming from her school under the cover of going to the bathroom.
In Colombia, where the sexcam industry has exploded, estimates suggest there are up to 400,000 models and 12,000 studios. The proliferation of such platforms has been alarming, with monthly views surpassing 1.3 billion worldwide as of April 2025.
Faced with a lack of economic prospects or secure environments, many young models, like Isabella and another model known as Keiny, find themselves at the mercy of their studios, which promise them financial freedom but often fail to deliver on that promise. Issues arise when studios improperly use fake identities to sidestep age regulations, an exploitation tactic that leaves young girls vulnerable to further abuse.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has described studio owners as "slave masters," bringing attention to the unethical practices within this booming industry. Models report some studios using recycled accounts of older performers to allow underage girls to work illegally, while platforms such as Chaturbate, BongaCams, StripChat, and LiveJasmin claim to have implemented checks to prevent the employment of minors.
Despite the substantial earnings potential, many models say they struggle to make a living wage, often receiving as little as $5 for long hours of work. They describe an environment rife with both physical and psychological pressures where they are coerced to perform acts they are uncomfortable with.
Some studios present themselves as supportive, offering benefits like mental health support and beauty treatments, yet stories of exploitation and abuse persist. For models like Sofi, 26, and Isabella, who have endured significant trauma while trying to support their families, the allure of quick money has often translated into painful experiences overshadowed by manipulation and exploitation.
As these challenges gain visibility, advocacy for stricter regulations surrounding the sexcam industry is on the horizon, aiming to protect vulnerable individuals from falling prey to a complex web of exploitation.
