Overview
Jeffrey Epstein leveraged his relationship with Leslie Wexner, who owned Victoria’s Secret parent company L Brands, to present himself to young women and aspiring models as a talent scout or recruiter connected to the prestigious brand. This false cover identity — Epstein had no actual professional role at Victoria’s Secret — was one of his most effective recruitment tools and connects his trafficking operation to the broader modeling industry.
The Victoria’s Secret Cover Story
Epstein was documented in multiple victim accounts as telling young women he could help them secure work with Victoria’s Secret, then one of the world’s most prominent fashion brands. The implication — that helping him was a path to a modeling career — was a standard enticement across his recruitment network.
Former Victoria’s Secret executives confirmed in depositions and journalism that Epstein had no official professional role with the company and that no legitimate business arrangement existed under which he was authorized to recruit models. However, Epstein’s personal closeness to Wexner created genuine ambiguity: he carried Wexner’s power of attorney, managed some of Wexner’s properties, and was a significant figure in Wexner’s personal life.
Jean-Luc Brunel’s MC2 Agency
The modeling industry connection extended beyond the Victoria’s Secret story to Jean-Luc Brunel’s MC2 Model Management agency, which Epstein partly funded. Brunel used his industry credibility to recruit young women, primarily in Europe, with modeling opportunities as the initial inducement. Some of these women were ultimately subjected to Epstein’s abuse.
The MC2-Victoria’s Secret-Epstein triangle represents one of the most complex institutional enablement mechanisms in the case: Epstein used the credibility of legitimate industry connections (Wexner’s brand, Brunel’s agency) to access victims who would not otherwise have been reachable.
Industry Accountability Questions
The modeling industry was examined in the Epstein aftermath for the broader phenomenon of predatory conduct under the guise of career advancement. Some modeling agencies and industry bodies adopted enhanced protection protocols in the post-#MeToo, post-Epstein period.
Victoria’s Secret itself underwent significant brand reputation damage from its Epstein connection. L Brands separated the brand, and its new ownership has distanced itself from the Wexner-era operational history.
Wexner’s Account
Les Wexner has stated that he was deceived by Epstein, that he did not know of Epstein’s criminal conduct, and that he severed their relationship before Epstein’s death. He has expressed regret over the association. The precise boundaries of what Wexner knew and when — particularly regarding Epstein’s use of the Victoria’s Secret connection for victim recruitment — remain a subject of legal inquiry.
Sources
Victim depositions in civil proceedings; Jean-Luc Brunel French prosecution documents; journalism on the MC2 agency and Epstein’s modeling connections; Les Wexner statements; L Brands corporate documents.