By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
January 18, 2000
Imagine being forced to have sex with your stepfather. And then his friends waiting in line for their turns. And your mother accusing you of stealing her husband and punishing you by selling you to a brothel. Imagine that you have not yet celebrated your 10th birthday.
The story is true, and just one of many heartbreaking tales told in the February issue of Marie Claire. Accompanied by stark, black-and-white photos of girls so young that their bodies are not yet developed, the article carries the optimistic title “Children Rescued from Prostitution.” After finishing the piece, the reader wonders whether these kids are ever rescued from their horrific lives.
In her compelling piece, Jennifer Lee writes, “For two years, Sokha remained trapped in the windowless brothel. Every time she ventured outside, her pimps, mindful of protecting their `property,’ watched her every move. Even if she had been able to escape, she asked herself, where could she go? One evening, a young man went in and bought her, promising her freedom. But salvation came at a horrific price. He brought Sokha to his home, where she was gang-raped by five men until she lost consciousness. He then dumped her limp body by the roadside and left her for dead.”
Luckily for Sokha, a member of AFESIP–an organization that aids children in trouble–found her and took her to a hospital for treatment.
To learn more, e-mail somaly@afesip.org or write AFESIP International, 48 rue de la Buffa, 06000 Nice, France.
Missed Christina Aguilera at Target? Can’t wait for her to open for TLC Feb. 3 at the Allstate Arena? Then check out the February issue of YM. The pop princess graces the cover of the teen magazine. The pithy story inside is comprised of quotes clipped from other magazines. But fans undoubtedly will get a kick out of the color pin-ups.
Meanwhile, over at Teen People, Aguilera’s former “New Mickey Mouse Club” castmate Britney Spears graces the February cover. The teen singer says that though she’s interested in an acting career, music is her primary focus. Not that she doesn’t want to look good on her next album cover. In the cover story, Spears says: ” `I hated the [first] album cover,” she says of the girlish shot taken at one of her first promotional photo sessions back when she was 15. This time, she says, `I have all these ideas.’ One possibility might be to hire photographer Herb Ritts, who is famous for his ultrasexy black-and-white celebrity portraits.”
Of the flack she received for her Lolita-style Rolling Stone photo spread last year, Spears, 17, says, “I’m a Christian. I go to church. But my mom taught us, `Don’t be ashamed of your body. It’s a beautiful thing.’ “
