Transcripts For BBCNEWS Victoria Derbyshire 20200126

Over the next half an hour well bring you some of the highlights from our Award Winning programme that weve broadcast over the last week. First, we learned that top social Media Influencers are being offered tens of thousands of pounds in cash, in return for sex. The men messaging them online are strangers. They often live abroad, and they typically approach women who are followed by more than 20,000 people on social networking sites. 0ne influencer told us that social media has become a catalogue for men to select their next conquest. Here is ellie costellos exclusive film. Instagram influencers sell us a lifestyle. They make money through advertising brands in exchange for payment. More followers means more paid work. But as the influencers circle becomes more saturated, its become harder than ever to make money. Opening the doors to exploitation. I told him that i needed to find £5,000 to pay off debts, and then he said, have sex with me and ill give you double that. Weve been told these propositions are becoming more frequent. Its high end prostitution. This programme has been told that influencers are being groomed, with designer handbags, luxury holidays and thousands of pounds of cash, in exchange for sex. The men messaging them on social media are strangers and often living abroad. One of those people offered money for sex is rosie williams. She starred in series four of love island. It was an offer to move across to dubai, and be paid to be somebodys companion out there. But you had no idea who that person was . No, never met this person at all. Was there a monetary value on that one . I think it was around £100,000 a year, then with all my clothes and bags paid for on top and sort of my lifestyle paid for. Would you ever be tempted, for that kind of money . Its a lot of money. Its a lot of money, and personally, for me, no, i would never be tempted. So i had one recently. Ive spoken with seven influencers who, until now, have remained silent on being offered money for sex. Theyd seen it as just part of the territory of having an online presence, but now they want the young girls looking up to them to know that regularly being propositioned this way has become their reality. Ive been shown several examples of the messages they have received. The approaches vary. Sometimes directly from a man asking for sex, or suggesting intimacy, others come from an Agency Acting on behalf of the wealthy client. Tyne lexy clarson was only 19 when she was sent herfirst proposition. She then went on to star in series three of love island. I had someone message me, offering me £20,000 for purely dinner and drinks, and then when i hadnt responded to that, within the next three days it had doubled to £40,000. And then when i came off the show, obviously my profile had gone up, and the same person had offered me £100,000. And then i had someone e mail me on behalf of a dubai businessman, offering me £50,000 forfive nights in dubai. Tynes offer by e mail came with a non disclosure agreement attached