LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The United States is once again ranked as one of the top three worst countries in the world for human trafficking, and for survivors like Marie-Ange Mbumba, the issue hits close to home.

Mbumba, a human trafficking survivor, endured unimaginable trauma but has turned her experiences into a platform of advocacy and hope.

"Life is beautiful, even when we go through the traumatic times," she said.

Mbumba’s ordeal began around 2013 while she was attending college in eastern Kentucky. She said she was coerced into attending "prostitution parties," where older men preyed on underage girls and young women.

"I met a lady who was trying to sell me into prostitution, and as a result of that, I was raped multiple times," Mbumba said in a 2021 interview.

At the time, she described herself as "vulnerable" and "naïve," but her resilience has allowed her to reclaim her story and inspire others.

Mbumba has since traveled the world as an advocate for human trafficking victims, visiting countries across Latin America and even Israel.

"God was always with me," she said. 

She transferred to the University of Louisville to complete her undergraduate education.

"That has been a major thing for me," she said, adding, "Now, I’m going to law school in the fall."

Mbumba recently published a memoir titled From Ashes to Beauty: Scars Turned to Crowns, inspired by the Bible verse Isaiah 61:3: "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of."

Marie-Ange Mbumba with her memoir on human trafficking

Pictured: this frame grab taken from video dated Jan. 17, 2025, shows Marie-Ange Mbumba, a human trafficking survivor from Kentucky, with her book titled From Ashes to Beauty: Scars Turned Into Crowns. (WDRB/Reyna Katko)

She credits her faith for helping her persevere through life's darkest moments.

"It just reaffirms to me that I'm beautiful," she said. "Even despite all the cracks, the brokenness, the pain that I've been through in life, God still gives beauty for ashes."

Mbumba encourages others to share their stories, noting that doing so can inspire others to overcome their own challenges.

"Never be shy to share your story because someone needs to hear it to keep going and keep fighting through those battles," she said.

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