“I want to know who I am and live free.”
When reading the above quote, it sounds more like a human right than a life goal, but for Cary Stuart, survivor of sex and human trafficking, it is just that. Living free is something that presented as a distant dream for her not too long ago, but it is one she achieved and now uses to advocate for the freedom of victims such as herself.
The last five years have seen a staggering rise in the number of people trapped in modern slavery throughout the world. Woman Rising gives this monstrous institution a face through Cary’s brave representation of what it means to be a victim and a survivor. Personalizing human trafficking in this way can influence and educate people in a way that mere data or academic discussion simply cannot. Cary’s vulnerability and bravery, which is so eloquently captured through the visuals of both this film and the accompanying photography will evoke a visceral response in viewers. The time for increased awareness, heightened response, and activism to end the crime that is human trafficking is now, and Woman Rising seeks to spur that activism on.
It is a pervasive and powerful stigma that attaches itself to victims of human trafficking for the purpose of being sold for sex – prostitute, whore – but it could not be further from the brutal truth that enshrouds them. Much of society, including a large portion of law enforcement, look at these people as willing participants, people who actively chose and continue choosing this lifestyle while having access to all the freedoms you and I enjoy and take completely for granted. The truth is, twenty-three-year-old Cary had plans to go to college while she stood outside one evening, plans to live her life and achieve her dreams. When a man named Ramie pulled up in an impressive vehicle and offered to fast track her modeling career, to take her to New York immediately and give her access to a vast world awaiting her, she jumped on the seeming opportunity.
As chronicled in this film, it was while Cary was incarcerated under charges of prostitution that she and Portland Coalition Against Sex Trafficking Co-Founder, Sgt. Farris first crossed paths. Her willingness to open up to him and share the horrifying details of her captivity as a victim of sex and human trafficking, helped the Portland Police Department see her for what she and others like her are in actuality – victims and survivors.
Cary showcases a feather tattoo on her left wrist, a symbol of her resilience, which she explains conceals scars from past attempts to take her own life.
Trafficked into ‘the life’ at 23 years old, Cary Stuart spent the next seven years isolated, beaten, drugged, and frequently moved between states, forced to sell herself. Despite enduring the most difficult of circumstances, Cary emerged from the horrors of trafficking strong and determined to rewrite her story. The series follows Cary over a five-year time frame as she strives to reclaim her truth. The mother of a teen son, and two young boys, 3-year-old Tristin and 1-year-old Jay, Cary’s love and dedication to them are evident and one of the focal points of the project. She says her goal is to model confidence and self-worth, teaching her sons to respect and defend girls and women — and it’s this passion that sets Cary apart.
Cary's childhood was spent in DHS custody. Both her parents were alcoholics. At age 14, she was committed to the Maine Youth Center. "I was held there on a tracking program till I was 18. I was the worst kid in there because, I figured, I couldn't go home. I felt like, I wasn't wanted and nobody loved me. I would sit by the window every Sunday for visits and nobody would come. I would go to my room and breakdown. I became very self-destructive and became my own worst enemy there. I would try to escape but that just got me more time. I caused riots and just didn't care anymore. I became hurt, angry, and felt so abandoned. I became suicidal. I tried to hang myself and cut myself often."
At age 23, Cary met her first trafficker. "I was standing in front a hotel when this man started talking to me. I could not belief that he was interested in me. He was dressed really nice and drove a black Mercedes. I was really impressed and was seriously deceived. Before I knew it, I was in his car going to NYC. He promised he we would travel and he would help me with my modeling career. But none of that happened.” She agrees to go to NYC with him. When she arrives in what she thought was NYC- turns out to be Atlantic City, there she is sold and forced to prostitute herself.
Cary, trying to dress herself while under the influence of illegal substance in her home, Biddeford, ME. Addiction to drugs and alcohol can be both a vulnerability to trafficking, and a common tactic used by traffickers to make victims more compliant. "I ended up getting really heavy into drugs when I was being exploited with my pimps. They would either dose or withhold to keep me coming back " January 2019, July 2021, and January 2022 Cary relapses. Each time she is admitted to a drug rehabilitation facially for 3 months.
Cary, during a drug relapse in her home in Biddeford, ME. "Once an addict always an addict. I'll always struggle with my addiction. I must take it one day at a time. I just feel like a part of me has died."
Mary Irace, alongside Cary Stuart, the dedicated Director of Salvation Army's Tools for Life Program, meticulously selects professional attire for an important panel discussion on human trafficking set for August 2023. Through the unwavering support of the Tools for Life Program, Cary has not only received crucial assistance but has also forged a strong bond with Mary over the years. Their collaboration highlights the significance of survivor leaders in combating human trafficking, underscoring their unique ability to provide invaluable insights and advocate for effective solutions based on firsthand experience. Survivor leaders like Cary are pivotal in the fight against human trafficking, offering a powerful perspective that can inspire change, foster empathy, and drive home the urgency of addressing this global issue.
"Journeying toward healing, one day at a time. Engaging in trauma therapy, women's groups, and drug counseling weekly, I dedicate myself to these steps, all for the well-being of my children and myself. The road is long, marked by mental illness, night terrors, PTSD, and dissociative personality disorder, scars from a past that tried to break me. Despite the critical need, survivors of gender violence in the U.S. face a stark reality: a significant lack of funding for mental health services. This gap in resources often makes recovery feel like an uphill battle, yet I persevere, driven by the hope of reclaiming the life and peace that were once stolen from me." Numerous reports and studies by organizations like the National Institute of Justice, the Polaris Project, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services often discuss the challenges and resource gaps faced by survivors of human trafficking. These include a significant lack of funding for mental health services specifically tailored to the needs of survivors of gender violence and human trafficking in the U.S.
During a visit to the Maine Youth Center, Cary reflects on the challenging chapters of her early life, marked by a childhood under the custody of the Department of Human Services. By the age of 14, she found herself committed to the Center, embroiled in a tracking program until she turned 18. Cary shares, "I was labeled the 'worst kid' there, driven by a sense of abandonment. The belief that I was unloved and unwanted enveloped me, shaping my actions and my view of the world."
The National Center for Juvenile Justice highlights a stark reality: approximately 60% of child sex trafficking victims have had interactions with the child welfare system. The lack of stable family environments significantly heightens the risk of exploitation, making youth like Cary prime targets for traffickers. Her story, while unique in its specifics, echoes the vulnerabilities faced by countless others in Portland, Maine, and beyond—vulnerabilities rooted in the trauma of neglect, abuse, and the profound disruption of being removed from home.
Cary's journey into the dark world of commercial sexual exploitation began with the allure of a modeling career in New York, a dream dangled by a trafficker who preyed on her need for acceptance and belonging. This narrative is all too common among children in the foster care system, who may already carry the heavy burdens of prior sexual abuse and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including homelessness, a history of running away, or neglect. Cary's story is a powerful testament to the complex interplay of factors that contribute to the risk of trafficking, underscoring the critical need for awareness, intervention, and support for those most vulnerable.
Cary holds her new born baby, Jay.
"In the life, I went from one monster to the next I was torn apart and stripped of everything. I went days without food. I was locked in rooms, kept in a brothel, had to work casinos, craigslist, back page, and worked the track. At sunrise I would just be getting home, there was no exceptions to answering that phone either. I had no control. I had to ask to eat, ask to go use the bathroom, to smoke. I could not even leave his sight. If there was another man in the room when we went somewhere, I was forced to stare at the floor. It was humiliating. The men buying sex they knew I was not there of my own free will, but they didn't give a shit. I was forced to sell my body to 10-15 men per night. Where was I going to go? I had nobody and no way out. Or at least that's how I felt. It seems like everyone that seemed to care just wanted to hurt me. There was always evil lurking. I fell prey to so much. It seemed like the only people that wanted to help me had bad intentions. Every day is still a struggle to be healthy, but I have my boys. They keep me strong."
Cary and her son, Tristin, play outdoors at their home, Biddeford, Maine
Two-year-old Tristin is Cary's second child. Tristin was born without a cochlea in his left ear. He is hearing impaired. "I had Tristin when I was 'in the life'. In the back of my mind, I think his disability is from being choked during my pregnancy till I was unconscious more times than I can remember and punched in the stomach. But docs say it's genetics. Tristin is most likely the son of one of my pimps either Ramey or King. King was the worst pimp of all. He tried to kill me a few times by strangulation and was the pimp who started drugging me. King would lock me up in a room and leave me there for days. He had a bottom bitch who came to collect my money each morning. I had a quota of $1000.00 per night. Men came in constantly and I would have to have sex with them any way they wanted." After her 18-month prison sentence, Cary participated in an 8- month recovery program at Hope Rising in Maine. In recovery, she was asked to attend AAA meetings and domestic abuse support groups. At this point, it becomes clear what has happened to her is human trafficking. She then begins reading self-help books about trafficking survivors- one particular book is the Survivor Guide to learning by Racheal Lloyd. Cary quickly realized her clinical therapist, who runs the support groups, had very little experience working with trafficking survivors. Cary took it upon herself to start running the support groups using Rachel Lloyd’s guide book. She finishes the program at Hope Rising 8 months later. " I felt very proud. This felt important to me. It was during this time I could finally see myself – Self-realization. Until this point in my life, I was in constant worry about others. But now I felt I could worry about myself and help myself."
In a heartfelt reunion, Cary, a survivor leader, shares a warm embrace with Sgt. Tim Farris, co-founder of the Greater Portland Coalition Against Sex Trafficking and Exploitation, marking their first meeting in seven years. Reflecting on their poignant history, Cary credits Sgt. Farris with not only her education about the dangers of trafficking but also with saving her life during her darkest times. "He saw hope in me when I couldn't," she says, recounting how his stark warning and unwavering support ignited a transformative journey. "His words catalyzed my path to becoming the survivor leader I am today." Grateful for his profound impact and dedication to shifting from enforcement to empowerment, Cary expresses deep appreciation and love for the man who played a pivotal role in her survival and advocacy. This moment of gratitude and recognition underscores the powerful bond formed in the fight against trafficking and the significance of support and understanding in the healing process.
As a Human Trafficking Subject Matter Expert, Cary shared her profound journey during a workshop aimed at preventing human trafficking, hosted by the Salvation Army's Tools for Life Program. This initiative, part of the Salvation Army Citadel Maine Corps, offers a comprehensive series of life and career skill-building classes to participants in the Greater Portland, Maine community. With an array of topics such as stress management, career discovery, internet safety, and more, the program is designed to empower individuals with the skills needed for job seeking and personal development.
Cary's participation brought invaluable insights and positive takeaways to the workshop. Among the many empowering messages, she highlighted the therapeutic power of journaling in navigating through trauma and underscored the significance of owning and shaping one's narrative. Cary's story and guidance offered a beacon of hope and a toolkit for resilience, illustrating the profound impact of personal agency in overcoming adversity.
Cary and her 4-month-old son, Jay, find moments of happiness and reflection together in front of a bathroom mirror in Biddeford, Maine, a symbol of Cary's journey from darkness into light.
Having survived the brutal realities of sex trafficking, Cary has risen with a newfound purpose: to support other women, educate her community, advocate for legislation that aids survivors, mentor the vulnerable, and train law enforcement on compassionate victim identification.
Having survived the brutal realities of sex trafficking, Cary has risen with a newfound purpose: to support other women, educate her community, advocate for legislation that aids survivors, mentor the vulnerable, and train law enforcement on compassionate victim identification.
'Not so sure how I did it myself. Some days were much tougher than others to get to where I am today. I just keep showing up, working on myself, growing, changing for the better, trying to overcome and understand what I've been through and who I am today. I want to live free and know who I am. There's so much of me I don't know. I want a better life and a healthier mind, body, and soul. To build a good life for me and my family. Raise a family like I should have been raised. I don't want chaos dysfunction in my life. My dream is to take what I went through and use it to help others. I have a strong faith and those are other great stories to tell.'
Amidst her personal recovery and advocacy, Cary is all too aware of the broader context of her ordeal. The sex trafficking epidemic in the United States remains a hidden crisis, with men, women, and children being exploited across all 50 states. A significant number of these victims are U.S. citizens. In 2014, the Urban Institute conducted a study of the underground commercial sex economy in eight U.S. cities, estimating that this illicit activity generated revenues between $39.9 million and $290 million, varying by city. The study found that, in one city, pimps earned an average of $32,833 per week.