Woman’s Journey From Survivor to Advocate

By Alexandra Cavalier
The Naples Press

Once silenced by exploitation, Alina Donahue now uses her voice to lead.

A survivor of sex trafficking, Donahue served as the keynote speaker before 200 men at the Gentle’Men Against Domestic Violence event hosted by the Shelter for Abused Women & Children. She described her journey toward healing and advocacy, expressing hope that her story would motivate change.

A promising childhood

Donahue grew up in Naples in a loving, structured home. Her parents, Cuban immigrants, instilled in her a deep belief in faith, discipline and responsibility. She was a straight-A student, a dedicated athlete and a daughter with big dreams.

Though she excelled, she described her upbringing as a “well-intentioned bubble” — a bubble that didn’t prepare her for the deception and exploitation she would later face when she was trafficked in her hometown.

“We simply never talked about red flags or manipulation,” Donahue said.

The deceptive relationship

While attending Florida SouthWestern State College, she met her former boyfriend — a relationship that would drastically change the course of her life.

“The relationship that altered the trajectory of my life did not begin with violence. It began with attention, with consistency, with love,” she said. “With someone who knew how to speak with certainty when I was still learning how to trust my own voice.”

He became Donahue’s trafficker and handler after convincing her to go to a fake modeling interview, where she was asked for ID and then forced to undress and sexually assaulted.

Her boyfriend continued to set her up with jobs in Southwest Florida and around the state.

Life under control

Donahue continued her speech, explaining that control rarely announces itself as control. She said it can appear disguised as care, guidance or someone offering to take responsibility, so you don’t have to carry it alone.

Her life became completely controlled by him — where she went, what she wore, what she ate and when she slept. She was never alone and was constantly monitored. Drugs were used to keep her compliant and numb.

Facing consequences alone

During that time, she was forced into committing credit card fraud. After eight months, Donahue was rescued when she was arrested in connection with the fraud, an encounter that ultimately led to her escape from trafficking.

“My exploitation ended, but not the way that felt like a rescue,” Donahue said.

She spent a year in jail for credit card fraud. At the time, there was no framework for coerced criminality, leaving her to face the consequences for a crime that was never entirely hers.

When she walked out of jail, she was ashamed, silent and determined to bury that chapter of her life forever.

For five years, she repressed her trauma, never speaking a word of her experiences — not even to her family — blaming herself for what had happened.

A chance encounter with the shelter

One day she attended an event where a representative from the Shelter for Abused Women & Children spoke openly about its work. Sitting in that room, enjoying her free lunch, she learned about the shelter’s mission — and quietly, it began to change the course of her life.

She first shared her story with Linda Oberhaus, CEO of the Shelter for Abused Women & Children, over a cup of coffee.

“For the first time I told the truth out loud. I did not soften it. I did not edit it. I did not protect anyone else’s comfort,” Donahue said. “Linda did not interrupt me. She did not question my credibility. She listened.”

When Donahue finished telling her story, Oberhaus responded, “Alina, do you realize that you are a survivor of human trafficking?”

Donahue questioned the statement: How could she be a survivor if she didn’t see herself as a victim? Oberhaus continued to educate her about human trafficking, offering answers and someone she could lean on.

“She didn’t realize what exactly had happened to her,” Oberhaus said. “I just think she needed to have a sounding board to be able to say it out loud. To be able to process it. To have someone validate that for her.”

Healing through therapy

Through the shelter, Donahue began traumatic incident reduction therapy. She revisited her experiences in a structured, guided and safe way, and soon her past no longer controlled her.

“The nightmare stopped. I was making progress I didn’t even know was possible for me,” she said. “I am an example of what effective trauma informed care can do when done correctly.”

Along with therapy, the shelter also believed in accountability.

Breaking barriers in Collier County

In 2013, the Florida Legislature passed the Human Trafficking Victim Expunction Statute. Under this law, survivors of human trafficking who committed crimes at the direction of, or under the force of, their trafficker can petition the court to have their records expunged.

At the time, it had never been used in Collier County. But Oberhaus believed justice should reflect reality and encouraged Donahue to give it a try — and she did. The shelter provided Donahue with an attorney, and together, they pursued justice.

Donahue became the first person in Collier County to receive full expungement for crimes she committed while being trafficked. Her criminal record was erased.

“That single legal outcome changed my life,” Donahue said.

Rebuilding life and advocating for others

Donahue is now happily married and has two young daughters. She continues her work with the Shelter for Abused Women & Children, helping co-create its Human Trafficking Residential Program. The program is a model rooted in safety, structure, accountability and long-term independence.

“Everything I do today exists because the shelter saw potential where I once only saw damage and mishap — my career, my credibility, my integrity, my ability to stand in rooms and speak with authority,” she said. “None of this would be possible without the Shelter for Abused Women and Children.”