MC2 Model Management

MC2 Model Management is an international modeling agency cofounded by French model agent Jean-Luc Brunel, with a $1 million line of credit provided by financier Jeffrey Epstein.^[1] The agency was established in Miami in 2005, renamed from Brunel's earlier agency Karin Models of America.^[1] The Miami operation was dissolved on September 27, 2019,^[2] though a branch affiliated with agency continues to operate in Tel Aviv.^[3][4]

Brunel was arrested in December 2020 on charges of rape, sexual assault of minors, human trafficking, and participation in a criminal conspiracy. He died by suicide in a Paris prison cell in February 2022 while awaiting trial.^[5] MC2 has been the subject of extensive investigation into its role in Epstein's sex trafficking network,^{[6][7][8][9][10]} including its documented connections to the Victoria's Secret fashion brand.^[11][12]

Jean-Luc Brunel began his career as a model agent in Paris in the late 1970s, becoming head of the Karin Models agency in 1978.^[1] He claimed to have launched the careers of several prominent models of the era, including Christy Turlington, Rebecca Romijn, and Milla Jovovich, though other agents have disputed some of these attributions.^[1] Allegations of drugging and sexually assaulting models surfaced as early as 1988, when a CBS 60 Minutes investigation presented by Diane Sawyer aired accounts from several of his accusers.^[1][9] Despite the broadcast, Brunel's career continued without consequence. In 1995, he expanded Karin's operations to New York and Miami, and was briefly a minority partner at Next Management in New York.^[1]

Brunel and Jeffrey Epstein are believed to have met in the 1980s, with their relationship growing in the late 1990s.^[1][9] Between 2000 and 2005, Brunel flew on Epstein's private jet at least two dozen times.^[1] In 2005, Brunel transformed Karin's United States division into MC2 Model Management, with Epstein providing a $1 million line of credit, according to a sworn deposition by MC2's former bookkeeper, Maritza Vasquez.^[1][11] Vasquez testified that Epstein directly paid for the visas of models brought to the United States to work for the agency, and that girls housed in agency-controlled apartments in Miami Beach and Manhattan were transported to parties at Epstein's Palm Beach and Manhattan properties rather than working as professional models.^[1][9] She said MC2 was a financially unprofitable operation, stating that Epstein's involvement appeared to be motivated by access to the agency's models rather than commercial interest.^[1] MC2 opened offices in Miami and New York, with a third branch subsequently established in Tel Aviv.^[2][3]