Tiana’s Story

Tiana grew up in harsh circumstances; her was father a pimp who sold her mother for sex. Due to the dysfunctional, abusive environment, Child Protective Services took Tiana into custody as a young child. Bouncing around from group home to group home, Tiana continually searched for someone to show her love, attention, and affection, eventually turning to social media to find what she was seeking.

A Less Than Charming Prince

Tiana was thrilled when her Instagram selfies caught the attention of a charming, handsome young man. He told her she was beautiful and that he wanted to marry her. One day, Tiana walked out of her high school to find him waiting for her. Tiana hesitated; she had only ever talked to him online. Young and in love, Tiana left with him, hoping to leave behind the lonely life she’d known. She didn’t realize this was all a part of his plan.

The young man lavished Tiana with gifts and attention, winning her love and trust. Then one day, he changed suddenly and drastically. He showed Tiana nude photos he had taken of her. He threatened to share the photos with everyone she knew if she didn’t start selling her body to earn him money. Under his coercive control, Tiana performed sexual acts with dozens of men, day after day, month after horrifying month.

“Now I know what happened to me wasn’t my fault. I deserve to dream again.” – Tiana

When Tiana came to The Dragonfly Home Relief and Restoration Center, she felt safe and at home. Through specialized Case Management tailored specifically for human trafficking survivors, Tiana gained access to many different services that helped her regain control over her future. She began participating in trauma-focused therapy that specifically helped her work through the difficult things that had happened to her.