Hi, my name is Barbara. I'm Brazilian and was kidnapped and forced into the sex trade when I was 18 years old. It was a horrific experience that left me scared and traumatized. One night, I was raped by a group of men who were high on drugs. I remember feeling so powerless as they took turns raping me. After that night, I felt like my body wasn't even mine anymore.
I was eventually rescued from the sex trade and have been living in the United States for the past few years. While I am grateful to be free from that life, it has left me with a lot of emotional scars that I'm still working through. I struggle with feeling safe and trusting people, especially men.
Despite everything I've been through, I try to stay positive and focus on my passions. I love basketball and play every chance I get. I also enjoy listening to hip hop music and dancing with my friends. I'm trying to learn how to cope with my trauma and move forward in a healthy way.
Overall, I'm just a regular girl who has gone through some really tough experiences but is still fighting to find her own happiness.