Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice

Giuffre’s tattoo is a symbol of autonomy and self-liberation related to the theme of Confronting and Healing From Trauma. Throughout her years with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Giuffre says, she was forbidden from getting a tattoo—a prohibition that echoed her broader imprisonment and, in particular, her lack of control over her own body. When she escaped, she therefore decided to get a tattoo, exercising her newfound freedom and agency over her body for the first time. That the tattoo commemorated her love for Robbie, a partner she chose and whom she credits with helping her recovery, underscores the point: “I told a Thai tattoo artist what I wanted and where I wanted it and then lay face down on a table. Soon, I had a blue butterfly—to symbolize the freedom of flight—and the words ‘In Love With Robbie G’ on the small of my back” (169). The image of the butterfly, as Giuffre explicitly states, represents liberation, while the text surrounding her husband commemorates her “commitment to Robbie” (169). Giuffre also hoped that, should Epstein and Maxwell try to enslave her again, Epstein would be repelled by the tattoo. In marking her skin with imagery and text of her choice, Giuffre staked a claim over her body, her life, and her future.

The Prince Andrew photo symbolizes Institutional Complicity in Abuse. Epstein took this photo in Maxwell’s townhouse in London in 2001, apparently unabashed that he was documenting such an influential figure in his, Maxwell’s, and Giuffre’s company. The implication is that Epstein had no qualms because he never believed he would face justice. He was protected by the system, the heads of which were complicit in the abuse that he allegedly spearheaded. The photo also visually conveys how powerless Giuffre was to speak out against her enemies. In it, she is surrounded by important and powerful figures whom she knew she could not protect herself from or bring to justice.

The photo would later resurface and cause public scandal. Debate spread in the media about whether it was doctored. This, too, highlights Giuffre’s point about institutional complicity; intentionally or not, the media often seeks to undermine survivors’ credibility and thus to protect those they accuse.

The “Survivor Sisters” is the name chosen by Giuffre and other survivors of Epstein and Maxwell’s abuse who went on to speak out against them. All of these women “shared the belief that by raising [their] voices, [they] might comfort and inspire others who weren’t yet ready to reveal their own suffering” (305). The name captures the communal nature of the women’s work. “Survivor” denotes strength, determination, and resilience, while “sisters” denotes connection, loyalty, and unity. The women gave themselves this name to commemorate their indelible bond. Collectively, the group symbolizes the Danger and Power of Survivors Speaking Out.