Proposed New York law aims to protect fashion models from exploitation

The Fashion Workers Act would curb abuses ranging from enforced financial dependency to sex trafficking

Kaja Sokola was a shy teen from Wroclaw, Poland, when she received news that changed her life: modeling agents saw her photo during an open casting call, and they wanted her to walk at a show in Warsaw.

Sokola had done one or two walks in a dress or skirt, but the show was mostly underwear. She was 14.