Brazilian Woman Auctions Virginity To Highest Bidder; Is It Charity Or Prostitution?

The Brazilian girl who has announced she’ll auction off her virginity to the highest bidder has attracted almost as much skepticism as attention. Catarina Migliorini, who will have sex with a Japanese man in exchange for a $780,000 donation to charities in her poor Brazilian town, has seen the legitimacy of her venture questioned not just by the ethically minded, but those who equate the venture with prostitution.

The 20-year-old beauty has taken herself off the Virginswanted.com market after selling her first love-making session to a man calling himself Natsu, who outbid the American Jack Miller by $40,000. Migilorini is being depicted as merely an expensive prostitute, though, after news broke that she has been at the center of filming for a documentary called “Virgins Wanted.” The perception that the actress and filmmakers are merely in it for the publicity has put the humanitarian claims seriously in doubt.

Journalist William K. Wolfrum reported that the documentarians behind the film have previously only shot wedding films, a far cry from a major motion picture. The filmmakers also followed around a male virgin, Alexander Stepanov, who only commanded $3,000 from the auction block.

Director Justin Sisely told the Huffington Post that he was surprised by the Brazilian virgin’s response that the entire project would be to benefit charity.

“I was surprised she said that because in all my dealings with her, she made it clear that it was a business decision for her,” he said. “Now, given how big this story is in Brazil, she’s trapped. If she doesn’t give any money to charity, she’s going to look bad.

“It’s been difficult finding girls, because anytime we cast one, their friends and family would do these interventions, tease them, and get them to pull out,” Sisely added.

The New York Daily News reported that Migliorini agreed to do the film two years ago after seeing a newspaper advertisement aimed at young virgins. She will reportedly receive $20,000 and 90 percent of the final $780,000. The young woman said she’s from Santa Catarina, an impoverished section of Brazil that can desperately use the money for the construction of modern housing.

If the whole thing sounds a little shady, that’s because it is. The legality around the whole donation in exchange for sex process is murky. Sisely said Migliorini and the Japanese man will carry it out on an airplane between Australia and the United States, an event that will not be filmed. The director said he will film the participants before they board the plane and when they land.

“I saw this as a business. I have the opportunity to travel, to be part of a movie and get a bonus with it,” Migliorini said. “If you only do it once in your life then you are not a prostitute."

She also added that she’d be too bashful to let the encounter be filmed.

“This type of transaction is setting a dangerous precedent, not to mention a call for global prostitution on a one-time basis,” said Cleon Daskalakis, who runs NetRaffle.org. “To those of us who promote professional and successful fundraising vehicles, this is a disgrace. I can’t imagine any legitimate charity would want to be associated with this type of promotion.”