Kayla's Survivors

09/03/2026

Eighteen men were sexually assaulted by someone entrusted with the power to protect. Former St. Louis-area officer Marcellis Blackwell pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting 18 men following traffic stops or arrests.

This case is also an important reminder that men can be survivors of sexual violence, too. Stigma, shame, or fear of not being believed can keep male survivors silent. Their experiences are no less real, and they are no less deserving of justice.

09/02/2026

This former St. Louis-area officer admitted to sexually assaulting 18 men while abusing the power of his badge. Sixteen of the men were handcuffed, and 15 were taken to remote locations. This was an abuse of authority and trust. Survivors deserve to be heard, believed, and protected — no matter who their abuser is.

08/27/2026

Men and boys are survivors, too. But stigma and the fear of not being believed keep many of them silent for years. Speaking up takes courage. And you deserve to be heard and supported just as much as anyone else.

08/24/2026

A former Fort Sill soldier has been sentenced to 9 years in prison for lewd acts involving a child and charges related to child sexual abuse material. Henry Allen Hardin was a Staff Sergeant when investigators traced child sexual abuse material back to him.

He admitted to recording the videos himself. A child was harmed in the process. Nine years is the sentence he faces. But for that child, the impact lasts far longer than any prison term.

Cases like this are a reminder that protecting children means taking every report seriously and following through with real accountability.

08/21/2026

Illinois just signed three bills strengthening protections for children. One recognizes grooming as a form of abuse under state law, creating a chance to intervene before physical misconduct occurs. Another improves protections for young people aging out of foster care. A third clarifies misconduct standards inside schools. Grooming is how most abuse starts. Naming it, investigating it, and acting on it early is what protecting children actually looks like.

08/20/2026

Sexual abuse doesn't require physical contact. It happens through phones, social media, video calls, and private messages. Offenders often spend weeks or months building trust before escalating. Parents need to know the warning signs. Survivors need to know what happened to them was abuse. Save this and share it.

08/14/2026

You can’t be at the top and claim you bear no responsibility for what happens beneath you. Whether on a television set like America's Next Top Model or in any workplace, leadership carries responsibility.

On America's Next Top Model, many of us were young, inexperienced, and navigating an environment we did not fully understand. Accountability starts at the top, and meaningful change happens when we are willing to examine the systems and power dynamics that shape these experiences.

'America's Next Top Model' cycle 15 and 17 alum Kayla Ferrel is now an attorney, and exclusively dissects Tyra Banks' lawsuit against Netflix's 'Reality Check' docuseries for EW.

08/14/2026

Meet Nathan Chapman, an attorney with Kayla’s Survivors whose career has been dedicated to protecting children and advocating for survivors.

Before joining our team, Nathan spent more than a decade prosecuting some of the most serious crimes, including child sexual abuse. He also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Missouri, where he worked in the Project Safe Childhood Unit prosecuting cases involving child exploitation.

Nathan brings extensive courtroom experience, a survivor-centered approach, and an unwavering commitment to seeking justice for those who have been harmed. We’re proud to have him on the Kayla’s Survivors team!

08/06/2026

The newly released Interlochen investigation includes two additional allegations
involving Jeffrey Epstein, whose ties to the institution extended beyond his time as a student to later becoming a donor.

According to the report, one former student alleged Epstein withdrew tuition support after she rejected his alleged sexual advances. Another former student alleged Epstein paid for her to travel to New York, where she says he and Ghislaine Maxwell engaged in sexual misconduct involving her.

These accounts are part of a broader investigation documenting allegations from more than 70 former students involving nearly 50 adults connected to the school over several decades. Even years later, survivors deserve to know their voices matter and that institutions will acknowledge the truth.

08/06/2026

A prestigious name should never outweigh a survivor's voice. A two-year independent investigation into Interlochen Center for the Arts details allegations from at least 70 former students who say they were sexually abused or exploited by nearly 50 adults in leadership roles over several decades.

The allegations detailed in the Interlochen report are deeply disturbing and underscore why institutions must prioritize protecting children over protecting reputations. Survivors deserve more than apologies, they deserve accountability, support, and to know their voices matter.