A Dutch name has surfaced in the millions of pages of newly released documents that investigating authorities collected about sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The American investor Epstein had frequent contact with Yfke Sturm, a former top model who served as a presenter and jury member of Holland’s Next Top Model and founder of a modeling agency had a large network of emerging models. Epstein asked her, among other things, to find “assistants” for him, the documents show. It is not clear whether Sturm did that.
Three questions about the relationship between the Dutch model and Jeffrey Epstein.
1Who is Yfke Sturm?
In 1996, fifteen-year-old Yfke Sturm was ‘scouted’ as a model when she was shopping with her mother in the HEMA in Almere. A few months later, she participated in the international modeling competition Elite Model Look in Nice, France. She won and moved to New York. There she worked for fashion brands such as Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Armani. She also walked shows for Victoria’s Secret, together with top models such as Heidi Klum, Gisele Bündchen and Tyra Banks. “A fantastic experience,” Sturm said to the Belgian newspaper in 2017 HLN.
In 2006, Sturm presented the first season of Holland’s Next Top Modelthe Dutch version of the television program America’s Next Top Model. A year later she was on the jury. And from the third season onwards, winners of the elimination race were offered a modeling contract with the MTA modeling agency, which was founded in 2007 by Sturm and her then husband.
The agency needed to take advantage of the potential models the program produced. When the company ran into financial problems in 2010, it merged with the international modeling agency Elite Model Management. Sturm gave the models of the Amsterdam branch of Elite workshops and catwalk training, according to its management. Sturm now lives in London.
2How does Sturm appear in the Epstein documents?
The three million released documents contain at least dozens of emails and Skype conversations between Sturm and Epstein. These date from 2011 to 2015 – years after Epstein was convicted in 2008 for sex with an underage girl. At first, Epstein seemed to mainly help Sturm with the divorce of her then husband Imad Izemrane. The sex offender sometimes dictated word for word what Sturm had to say to Izemrane say to put pressure on him.
The precise relationship between Epstein and Sturm is difficult to explain. However, the two do resemble each other several times to have seen in real life – they agreed to meet each other via emails. He calls her a friend and wishes her a nice one Valentine’s Day.
They also texted each other in February 2012 sexually explicit to inform. Sturm emails among other things, that she wants to wake up with Epstein’s “hard” genitals. He asks then send her a photo with a “massage pose.” When Sturm refuses because she is in company, Epstein still asks to send photos when she returns to her hotel.
You are Wonderful and I hope you have faith in our friendship
Epstein also appears to want to regularly use Sturm’s network. On April 22, 2012 writes Epstein to Sturm: “You owe me two girls.” (“You owe me two girls.”)
“I’ll make it up to you in Paris,” Sturm responds.
Epstein: “No threesomes please… I want a new toy as a gift.”
Sturm: “I don’t know any girls who are like that.”
Epstein: “Just a nice model from Eilite Amsterdam [sic].”
Sturm: “Am I not good enough?”
Epstein: “You are wonderful and I hope you have confidence in our friendship.”
A day later, Epstein advises her again about her divorce.
3How has Yfke Sturm reacted?
In a written statement, including to RTL Boulevard44-year-old Sturm has expressed regret for her involvement with Epstein. In that statement she does not elaborate on what exactly that involvement entailed.
She calls the contact with Epstein a “serious error of judgment.” She was “naive” and underestimated “the true nature of Epstein and the damage he caused.” Her “thoughts go out to the women and girls who have been victims.”
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