A 20-year-old Brazilian woman has decided to hold a global auction to donate to a non-governmental organization, which will construct modern houses in her southern Brazilian home state of Santa Catarina. Usually this would be an honorable gesture as a fundraiser, but there is something slightly different about this auction. Instead of selling priceless art, or perhaps baked goods, Catarina Migliorini is selling her body. Late September, Migliorini allowed a video to be posted on the Internet in which she declared that her virginity can be sold to the highest bidder, reported The Huffington Post. To add to the controversy, she’s going to be followed every step of the way by an Australian film crew for a documentary called “Virgins Wanted.” For this young woman to be allowed to prostitute herself to a random man, regardless of the circumstances, is wrong.
The bidding for her deflowering has easily topped $255,000. The deed will take place on an airplane flying from Australia to the United States, in order to avoid prostitution laws. The mere fact that they have to go to such extremes to make it happen is a clear indication that this is wrong. It’s simply immoral. Cleon Daskalakis runs Netraffle.org, a company that raises money for charities on the Internet, according to The Huffington Post. When interviewed, Daskalakis stated, “To those of us who promote professional and successful fundraising vehicles, this is a disgrace. I can’t imagine any legitimate charity would want to be associated with this type of promotion.” I couldn’t agree more. It gives charities and fundraisers a bad reputation, and can actually end up hindering the goal of donation, rather than helping.
Justin Sisely is the head behind the operation, as well as the filmmaker for the documentary “Virgins Wanted.” Many of the original virgins dropped out due to a poster’s possibly misleading advertisement, according to the NY Daily News. The poster had the image of the Virgin Mary with the caption of “Virgins Wanted” beneath it, which could have insinuated something having to do with Christianity. Sisley told The Huffington Post, “It’s been difficult finding girls, because anytime we cast one, their friends and family would do these interventions.” These families are merely trying to stop their loved ones from throwing their lives away. The program is sketchy to begin with, but is becoming more so with every new piece of information brought to light. Sisley also stated, “This is about transforming life,” as he explores how people’s lives can change. Wow, that sure is deep. Journalist William K. Wolfrum wrote that the production company behind the film, Thomas Williams Productions, has barely any experience at all with actual film producing. And people have actually invested money into this? It’s absurd.
Originally supposed to be a reality TV show in Australia, the film has resulted in legal issues all over the world. The face-to-face auction was once scheduled to take place in Las Vegas because of the strict prostitution laws in Sisley’s home of Australia. The Las Vegas Sun reported in 2010 that there are laws in Nevada guarding against taking women across state lines for prostitution. Some counties in Nevada have legalized prostitution, but Sisley had to change these plans as well. Somehow they were able to avoid all prostitution laws by using a private plane to film the documentary, once again, going through hoops in order to film this shockingly immoral movie.
Another issue is where and to whom the money is actually going. Migliorini signed up for the project two years ago when she answered an advertisement from the production company. All sources say that she will be given $20,000 and 90 percent of the final auction price, which has been extended from Oct. 15 to Oct. 23. In other words, this money is mainly for her, reinstating the idea that it is in fact prostitution. From The Huffington Post interview, Sisley stated that he wasn’t even aware that Migliorini was going to donate this small portion of her earnings to charity until recently. Is this showing signs of her backing out of the donation? Because if she were to do so, then she would not only be criticized by the people of Santa Catarina, but by all of Brazil.
The logistics of the act itself are pretty disturbing. According to the “Virgins Wanted” Terms and Conditions on their website, Migliorini will first be examined by a gynecologist in order to prove that she is still a virgin. The winner of the auction is to be tested for STDs or diseases of any kind before the consummation takes place. A condom, of course, will be used. Shouldn’t these very intimate decisions be made between the two parties involved? Normally yes, but considering the fact that neither party knows the other, these details are handled by a random third party. I thought sex was supposed to be a meaningful experience between two people, not exploitation for money. The idea of this documentary is appalling and disgraceful for everyone involved. Migliorini should deeply regret this decision.
Lauren Richey can be reached at lauren.richey@spartans.ut.edu
Leave the woman alone. You people have more sins and don’t assume them. At least she’s honest. And it’s nobody’s business what she wants to do with her life. You people get a life!