Graciela Yataco

Who is Graciela Yataco?

Graciela Yataco is a Peruvian model from Lima who in March 2005 offered to sell her virginity to the highest bidder, as a means to bring her family and sick mother out of poverty. Her offer was made via a newspaper advertisement for 20,000 soles. In the strongly Catholic country of Peru, this caused outcry among some commentators and public figures. In April 2005, Ms Yataco retracted her offer, having already turned down an offer of $1.5m from a Canadian man, and thus was accused of conducting a publicity stunt having never really intended to sell her virginity. Yataco herself argued that she was serious in her offer and pointed to economic conditions in Peru which prevented people like herself who were willing but unable to find paid employment on which to sustain a living.