From Epstein survivor to T&T Carnival reveller.

Last Wednesday, Sharlene Rochard stood in Washington, DC, with other survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse as United States Attorney General Pam Bondi faced questioning before the House Judiciary Committee.Tomorrow and Tuesday Rochard will step onto the stage at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain, joining thousands of Carnival revellers.Rochard says both are part of reclaiming her life. Speaking to the Sunday Express in an exclusive interview yesterday, Rochard wore a butterfly brooch, a symbol for Epstein survivors representing the transformation from victim to victor, reflecting her journey toward healing and empowerment.

Rochard arrived in Trinidad and Tobago last week, the birthplace of her father, Lennox.The visit comes months after Rochard publicly came forward as a survivor of Epstein.Born in London, Ontario, Canada, Rochard has visited Trinidad and Tobago only twice before—once at age three and again at 21. Although she has never played mas in Trinidad and Tobago, her father, who lived here before migrating, often spoke of it and shared old videos.Rochard has, however, participated in Caribana in Canada. Her father passed away in 2016, and she even considered bringing his ashes to T&T to scatter them.

Rochard said she met Epstein as a teenager when she was working as a model in New York.“He (Lennox) didn’t want me to become a model or an actress although he was proud of me; he would have much rathered if I choose a different career,” Rochard recalled.The repercussions of the Epstein scandal continue to ripple globally.Among the latest high-profile consequences, the world’s largest logistics firm, DP World, has replaced its chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, after e-mails surfaced detailing his long-standing friendship with Epstein. Kathy Ruemmler, Goldman Sachs’ chief legal officer, announced last Thursday that she will step down following the disclosure of e-mails in which she referred to Epstein as an “older brother” and appeared to minimise his sexual offences.