Shocking reality of what happens to ‘yacht girls’ with ‘very blurred’ lines
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault, which some readers may find distressing.
At first glance, it might seem like the dream job. Mingling with the rich and famous and getting paid to party on a multi-million pound yacht is something many people aspire to.
It's nothing new either, but the practice has been regarded as one of Hollywood's darkest secrets for decades, thanks to some of the things that really go on.
Referred to as 'yachting', the women who are hired or brought onto the boats to see and be seen are called 'yacht girls'.
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There are many glamorous photos of young women on boats at famous events and parties, but the lid has been lifted on some of the controversial—and sometimes horrifying—activities that can take place.
'Yacht girls' are usually women who aspire to raise their profiles within the entertainment industry, and so often enter the 'yachting' world to establish connections with the wealthiest people in the world (via Stylist).
According to the Hollywood Reporter, a film veteran said the line is 'very blurred' when it comes to who is being hired. But according to some former 'yacht girls', it can sometimes be a traumatic experience.
One model, Sarah Harris, from Birmingham, recounted her experience to The Sun, when she claimed that she was 'sexually assaulted on a yacht by a drunken crypto-millionaire', an attack from which there was 'no escape'.
Her role began after she was told about 'yacht girl' life by another model she met at a swimsuit shoot: "She and two other models I knew were going and the pay was £600 for five hours’ work. It was a party for a well-known DJ,"
“She told me excitedly, ‘All we have to do is chat to guests, dance, mingle and pose in our bikinis. We’re there to bring the glamour'."
Sarah said at first, life was good, until one fateful night in 2022. “There were 12 girls and six men on board and I had been offered £1,200 for five hours’ work," she recalled.
She claims she was groped and assaulted by one of the drunk men on the boat, as she continues: "In tears, I managed to push him off with my friend’s help and we demanded the organisers take us back to shore on a speedboat."
The event was enough to put her off for life, as she said: "I vowed to stay away from the paid party scene after that. There is a mucky side to the un-policed yacht parties, especially in Europe."
Not everyone had a bad time: another model, Pippa Taylor, said she was strictly told she wouldn't be an escort and would instead 'bring the glamour to the party'.
"I had a rule of only doing day parties and I never accepted overnight invitations, as I didn’t want to give men the wrong idea," she said.
"Overall I had a great experience and made lots of money, but I was careful. I decided to get out while the going was good."
Boat life definitely isn't all it's cracked up to be.
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.
Jen Thomas