Inside the World of Paid-to-Party: Desires and Dangers Amidst Luxury Lifestyles
Valentina, a 25-year-old model, shares her firsthand experience in the competitive paid-to-party scene. Two years ago in Cannes, she was offered €4,800 to spend the night on a man’s yacht along with her friends. The yacht party was characterized by an abundance of women, and the night unfolded with drugs, alcohol, and sexual encounters. Valentina, like many others on board, engaged in sexual activities with men, often much older than themselves, and received gifts or job offers in return. She highlights how some participants, driven by the allure of wealth and opulence, end up in compromising situations, engaging in activities they wouldn’t consent to in their regular lives.
Anna, reflecting on her experience, explains how the pursuit of an elite lifestyle can become an addictive and unfulfilling endeavor. She describes feeling ‘brainwashed’ by Instagram and the high-fashion world she inhabited, where the desire for wealth escalated from millionaires to billionaires. Anna’s turning point came after a terrifying incident involving a spiked drink and an aggressive encounter in a mansion. This wake-up call led her to seek therapy and reevaluate her approach to the jet-set world. Mariana emphasizes the importance of using the connections gained from this lifestyle to benefit one’s long-term goals, such as securing a better job or starting a business, rather than becoming a forgotten party participant.
