Epstein 'Jane Doe' Finally Reveals Her Identity After Claiming Late Financier Controlled Her Body, Money and Life

For years, the woman at the centre of a $72.5 million (£54.3 million) lawsuit against Bank of America was known only as 'Jane Doe'. Now she has a name, a face and a disturbing story to tell.

Julia Molchanova, 37, has revealed her identity for the first time, describing how Jeffrey Epstein allegedly lured her into his world when she was just 22 and gradually took control of her body, money, career and personal life.

Molchanova recalled being young, inexperienced and unable to speak much English when the wealthy financier approached her outside Barneys on Madison Avenue.

Epstein Used a Fashion Dream To Draw Her Into His World

Epstein paid for sewing courses Molchanova took in Russia to prepare for FIT and later invited her back to New York in January 2012, supposedly to show her the school.

Instead, she says, she was sexually abused for the first time inside an apartment where other women connected to Epstein were also staying.

When Molchanova objected to what had happened, she says Epstein told her sexual openness was part of American culture and that she needed to change to fit in.

A month later, she contacted Epstein after her boyfriend assaulted her during an argument in Paris. Epstein happened to be there and helped her leave, paying for a flight back to Russia.

She eventually moved permanently to New York, hoping Epstein would finally help her enter the fashion industry. He never got her into FIT. Instead, she says, he groomed her to become his 'assistant'.

Molchanova Says Epstein Controlled Her Money, Appearance, and Relationships

Molchanova says he expected constant gratitude, demanded that she remain cheerful and friendly, and questioned how she could be useful to him.

He allegedly controlled her spending, giving her less than $3,000 (£2,300) a month, while also dictating her clothes, hairstyle, doctors and relationships.

'It was like a cult,' Molchanova said. 'He was very manipulative.'

She also says Epstein pressured women around him into sexual encounters and expected them to bring other young women into his orbit. Molchanova says she refused to participate in procuring potential victims, which she believes worsened his treatment of her.

In 2013, Epstein allegedly arranged a sham marriage for her to another woman. Four years later, paperwork was prepared to dissolve the arrangement.

His control allegedly extended into her finances. In 2014, Epstein's lawyer Darren Indyke registered a company called JSC Interiors in Molchanova's name.

She believed it was intended to help launch her design career, but says she later discovered Epstein had maintained control over the company and used its Bank of America account for transactions she did not understand.

'Jane Doe' Became a Key Plaintiff in the $72.5 Million Settlement

Molchanova later became the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit brought by women who accused Bank of America of knowingly helping maintain Epstein's financial network despite warning signs.

The bank denied facilitating sex trafficking for sexual abuse but agreed to a $72.5 million settlement benefiting dozens of survivors.

For Molchanova, the case became part of a wider fight over how Epstein was allowed to continue operating despite his previous prosecution for sexually abusing girls.