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Agent's decade-long correspondence with Epstein exposed
Emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice show model agent Ramsey Elkholy repeatedly introduced women as young as 18 to Jeffrey Epstein over nearly a decade, often describing their bodies and sexual attitudes in messages to the disgraced financier.
Emails detail requests for Epstein to meet women
Elkholy, who worked as a model agent in the 2010s, sent hundreds of emails to Epstein between 2009 and 2019. In one 2011 exchange, he urged Epstein to "just try her in bed," referring to a woman in her 20s he described as "desperate for cash." Two days later, after Epstein responded with a single word-"zero"-Elkholy pressed again: "Jeffrey PLEASE just try her in bed... I really need that so I can feel whole about all this because she's such a pain in the ass."
Elkholy told the BBC he sent the message with the woman's permission and expressed regret for his language and association with Epstein. He claimed he was unaware of Epstein's abuse of women at the time.
Focus on young women and industry connections
The emails reveal Elkholy frequently discussed women's ages, appearances, and willingness to engage sexually. In 2009, he noted a "very hot blonde" but acknowledged, "I know 23 is on the old side for you," when Epstein was 56. Another message described a 19-year-old as a "5'11 blonde barbie doll" but dismissed her as a potential match for Epstein because she was a "hard core christian."
In 2010, Elkholy introduced Epstein to an 18-year-old Russian college student, writing, "I think you will like her." Epstein's assistant confirmed he wanted to meet her. Elkholy later told the BBC he hoped Epstein would help the young woman find modeling opportunities.
Ties to modeling industry and Epstein's network
The correspondence suggests Elkholy leveraged his connections in the fashion world to facilitate meetings between Epstein and models. He discussed arranging introductions through lingerie brand Victoria's Secret-then owned by Epstein's biggest client, Les Wexner-and designer Vera Wang's label.
The files also indicate Elkholy was in contact with French model agent Jean-Luc Brunel, who was accused by Brazilian women of recruiting girls for Epstein's sexual exploitation. Brunel died in a Paris prison cell in 2022 while under investigation for rape and trafficking of minors.
Elkholy told the BBC he was not part of Epstein's inner circle and met the financier only 10-12 times over a decade. A search of the DOJ website returns over 2,000 mentions of his surname, though many are duplicates.
Proposed investments to expand access to women
In 2016, Elkholy traveled to Brazil and pitched Epstein on several business ventures, including modeling agencies, magazines, and a competition. He suggested investing in one agency, noting Epstein was likely "more interested in the access" to women, replacing the word with an emoji.
For a modeling contest, Elkholy estimated 200,000 girls would participate across dozens of cities over nine months. He argued the winner-typically "another overlooked girl"-could be flown to the U.S., Paris, or the Caribbean, locations Epstein frequented.
Elkholy also proposed buying a Brazilian fashion magazine, writing, "You could easily have 20-30 girls trying for the cover each month." When Epstein rejected the idea, Elkholy lamented the lost opportunity to "have sex with all the girls" and suggested buying the Brazilian edition for "a couple hundred k" to secure "a steady stream" of women, using an offensive slang term.
Final messages before Epstein's arrest
Their correspondence continued until 2019, as legal pressure mounted on Epstein. In their last exchanged messages, Elkholy discussed bringing a Russian woman to the U.S., suggesting she apply for a student visa. Epstein recommended Dubai instead. Three months later, Epstein was arrested for the second time on sex trafficking charges.
Reactions and broader context
The FBI estimates Epstein abused up to 1,000 women and girls, many of whom were models. The newly released emails underscore how Epstein cultivated relationships within the modeling industry to gain access to young women.
Elkholy, who now identifies as an anthropologist and musician, said he handled documents related to the estate of Kazakhstani model Ruslana Korshunova, who visited Epstein's Caribbean island in 2006 at age 18. Korshunova died in 2008 after falling from a ninth-floor balcony in New York; authorities ruled her death a suicide.
"I don't need to tell you that I also value your friendship. The reason I never ask for anything in return for introducing you to models is because I consider it more of a favor and I know that you are also good for favors,"
Ramsey Elkholy in a 2009 email to Jeffrey Epstein
