Jessica Davies

When Nudes Are Stolen

When Nudes are Stolen

BBC Three

BBC Three - When Nudes Are Stolen

Former glamour model Jess Davies uncovers the hidden trade in nude photographs.

When Jess Davies started glamour modelling at age 18, she had no idea that she would be opened up to online abuse, trolling and, bizarrely, having her images used by catfish who target men around the world. Now the lads mags have closed and Jess has decided not to do topless shoots anymore, but images of her are all over the internet. She has no control over how they are used or what for.

Over the years Jess has received hundreds, if not thousands, of messages from men telling her they’ve been speaking to someone using her pictures. It’s Jess who bears the brunt of their frustration and anger when victims realise they’ve been conned. She has never been able to get to the bottom of why this happens, but in this film she finally finds out. It can be traced back to a collection of underground forums, websites and groups dedicated to packaging up nude and topless photos to sell in online marketplaces. In these forums, revenge porn, nudes and leaked photos from Only Fans are traded and sold. Eventually, Jess manages to find her own ‘pack’ – photos of her are being sold in exchange for a $15 Amazon gift card.

The film explores a broader online culture in which people have no concerns about sharing and trading peoples’ intimate photos, and give little consideration to whether the pictures were taken consensually. 
Jess begins to realise just how massive an impact the trading and misuse of photos of her has had on how she feels about herself and her real-life relationships. Now she is determined to reclaim control over her own body, her image and her life.

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