Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of media proprietor Robert Maxwell and girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested in the US today, accused of assisting Epstein’s abuse of minors by helping to recruit and groom victims known to be underage. The British socialite was born and raised in France, but has spent time in both America and the UK.
How do you pronounce Ghislaine?
Ghislaine Maxwell was born of mixed Czechoslovakian and French heritage, and her name hails from the latter.
Pronunciations of her name will vary around the world according to people’s first language and accent, but there is only one true way to say it.
According to Vanity Fair, the “s” in her name is silent, meaning it is pronounced “Gee-lane”.
As such, people have often struggled with aspects of her name, such as which parts include soft or hard pronunciations.
Vanity Fair confirmed the “g” is always hard, while the “s” is soft.
Ghislaine Maxwell founded environmental nonprofit the TerraMar Project, an oceanic conservation group which took her around the world.
Part of her philanthropic pursuit ultimately led to conferences such as Ted Talks, and eventually saw her sit at the UN.
Maxwell’s philanthropic venture has since closed, and until now she had adopted a low profile – with many wondering about her whereabouts.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Maxwell at 8.30am ET (1.30pm BST) in the US state of New Hampshire on Thursday.
She was arrested on charges of ‘assisting, facilitating and contributing’ to Epstein’s abuse of minors, by “helping Epstein to recruit, groom and ultimately abuse victims” known to be under age, four documents show.
The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York said in a news release it would announce the full details of that charges later in the day against Maxwell “for her role in the sexual exploitation and abuse of multiple minor girls by Jeffrey Epstein.”
Sources told the Reuters news agency she was due to appear in federal court today.
Epstein was due to appear in court in 2019 on charges of trafficking minors but was found dead in his New York City jail cell on August 10.
The financier was accused of raping and trafficking underage girls for nearly two decades.
Some of his alleged victims claimed Maxwell lured them into his circle before they were sexually abused by him and his powerful friends.
Maxwell allegedly formed a relationship with Epstein in the 1990s, and allegedly remained a member of his inner circle long after they broke up.
In 2003, a Vanity Fair article quoted the financier as saying she was his “best friend.”
Federal prosecutors said in court papers she had “enticed and caused minor victims to travel to Epstein’s residence in different states”.
They added Maxwell is accused of assisting in their “grooming for and subjection to sexual abuse.”
Prosecutors also claimed Maxwell was well aware of Epstein’s preference for minor girls, and that he intended to sexually abuse them.
Ms Maxwell has denied any wrongdoing.