Stop The Traffick 2026

We Model USA turns visibility into action to advance human trafficking prevention. So here to preview today's stop the Traffic event at the Jefferson Memorial, our founder, excuse me, is founder, Dr. Patricia Watts. Dr. Watts, thanks so much for joining us here today. Well thank you, Fox 5, for having us here, Chris. We're honored to have you here. We are also joined by two models. We'll talk about their role in all of this coming up here in just a little bit. We have Phoenix and Malia here. Dr. Watts, you served in the U.S. Army before founding this organization. Can you talk to us a little bit about how your military service shaped your commitment to fighting human trafficking? Yeah, actually, 22 years I served in the military and 17 years I served with the government. While I was in Afghanistan, there were things that you wouldn't think that happened inside the wire. Well, that's when I really got exposed to what human trafficking is. But I also know that my duty was to protect my troops, but also protect those around me. And so that led me to, even after getting out of the military, still have a passion of protecting and serving. Protecting and serving, such an important cause. So talk to us a little bit about the message behind 100 Girls, One Formation, One Stand for Freedom. That's the event happening today at the Jefferson. It is. Absolutely. And it really is the way to resonate with our young people through the lens of beauty, fashion and entertainment, how we have a role. And beauty is the new tool that fights against human trafficking. They have a voice and we want them to not only have a voice, but understand what the threats are, what the risks are, but not to take away from their network, their platform. And their platform is to rise, to be our future leaders, and to do and choose what they want to do. Such an important issue, such an important event, and I love that you're using their platforms to talk about such an important event. So you kind of gave us a little bit of a preview of it, but why use fashion modeling and pageant platforms to bring an awareness to an issue like this? Yes. Human trafficking is the second largest crime in the world. It happens in every backyard. And when you start talking about who do they target, they target starting at the age of 11 to around 24. 113,000 kids in the United States in 2025 were actually a part of being trafficked. Some of it was sex, some of it's labor, but we just can't tolerate it. And the real thing is not on my watch. It really is protecting our children and making sure that they can be whoever they want to be. And we have two wonderful models here with us, like we mentioned. Why is this such an important? You mentioned why this is so important. You talked about how young this can happen. What is your message to parents out there who may be worried about something like this? It's not just the parents. It's everyone in the community. The parents have a role of protection, but the community, the businesses, everything that happens that impact us in our neighborhoods, they have to be attuned to what is happening in their neighborhood to make our neighborhoods more healthy and more prosperous. And it starts with our children. Digital technology. Look, even at school, there are prowlers that's getting inside the networks and actually targeting our children. Our children are smart. They're technical. And they need to know those things that might impact them. And they also need to be financially literate. So we have a lot to do to make sure that we empower our young girls to be all that they are going to be which is our future leaders our future leaders thank you so much for highlighting such an important cause and bringing the message to all of our Fox Five viewers, Model USA founder Dr. Patricia Watts and Malia and Phoenix taking a pose thank you so much for joining us here and join us today today Jefferson 11 a.m right that's That's right. Alright.