Chilling meaning behind ‘branding’ women were given in Allison Mack sex cult

This is the chilling meaning behind the 'branding' women were given after joining a cult labelled a 'pyramid scheme' for sexual slavery.

Harrowing testimonies in 2017 exposed wellness group NXIVM as being a cult, which included a secret society dedicated to branding women and forcing them into having sex with the group's leader, Keith Raniere.

Interest has once again reignited in the case after Smallville actor and convicted cult member Allison Mack shared her story on a podcast, after being exposed as one of the most senior celebrity members of the group.

Known as 'DOS' - which is an acronym for 'Dominus Obsequious Sororium' or 'Master Over Slave Women' - the subgroup was billed as a 'women's empowerment' sect and led by Mack.

Allison Mack, who was convicted for her role in the cult, has spoken out in a new podcast (Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

In reality, the actor was the group's 'master' and second-in-command below only Raniere.

She recruited young women to be 'slaves' and oversaw them being branded with the group's 'mark'. The women were also made to hand over explicit images and compromising images of themselves, referred to as 'collateral', which was later used as blackmail.

Numbers around the exact amount of women brought into the cult were unclear; however, prosecutors believe there were at least 50, per The Hollywood Reporter.

What was the meaning behind the branding used by NXIVM subgroup DOS?

During the high-profile trial and sentencing of Raniere and Mack, images of the branding emerged online.

According to prosecutors, the women were branded with a hot cauterising pen, which left a jagged scar.

The symbol, which was burned into their pelvic area, is said to have incorporated Raniere's initials 'KR'. Women were also said to be unaware that Raniere's initials were included in the image.

The symbol women were branded with (CBS)

It's also been alleged that Mack's initials may have been incorporated into the insignia, with actor Sarah Edmondson revealing she thought 'AM' was included in the mark.

"We still don’t know to this day. When I start to figure it out, I saw the A.M. first, and then I saw the K.R," she said in an interview with Hollywood Life.

"It was testified to in the trial that it wasn’t ever planned to be A.M., that it was just a coincidence. But I am not convinced."

Mack has also admitted to being the brains behind the idea to brand members, telling New York Times in 2018 that she wanted the initiation symbol to be something meaningful.

"I was like: ‘Y’all, a tattoo?... I have two tattoos and they mean nothing," she told the outlet.

The image incorporated Raniere's initials (CBS)

However, some people believe the brand also included Mack's initials (CBS)

What happened to Keith Raniere and Allison Mack?

Raniere was ultimately sentenced to 120 years behind bars after being convicted of sex trafficking, racketeering, forced labour and fraud conspiracy.

Meanwhile, Mack was sentenced three years in prison for racketeering and conspiracy charges.

She was released in 2023 after serving a two-year sentence.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.