Rebecca Bernardo (YouTube)
A Brazilian high school student is offering her virginity to the highest bidder in an effort to raise money to help care for her bed-ridden mother who suffered a stroke.
"My name is Rebecca," she said in a YouTube Video posted in December. "I'm here to auction off my virginity."
Rebecca Bernardo, 18, has received three offers thus far; the highest is $35,000.
Bernardo told CNN she was inspired by Catarina Migliorini, a 20-year old Brazilian college student who sold her virginity on an Australian website for $780,000 dollars in October, but was motivated to help her mother, who has been bed-ridden since the stroke.
Bernardo, who lives in the small farming town of Sapeacu, said she tried working as a waitress and selling cosmetics but the money was barely enough to cover a home caregiver.
Despite her inability to feed herself or to go to the restroom, Bernardo's mother is whole-heartedly against her daughter's decision.
"She should look for work," her mother said to CNN. "She shouldn't prostitute herself."
A Brazilian television show has offered to pay for her mother's medical expenses but Bernardo denied the offer because she is hoping to raise enough money to start a new life in another town with her mother.
In October, Migliorini defended herself against accusations that she was a prostitute.
“I saw this as a business. I have the opportunity to travel, to be part of a movie and get a bonus with it,” Migliorini said, according to the New York Daily News. “The auction is just business, I'm a romantic girl at heart and believe in love. But this will make a big difference to my area.”
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