Christian Daily International’s podcast Faith Without Frontiers returns with its fourth episode, featuring Ilona Miler, author of A Woman of Many Names: My Journey from Sexual Exploitation to Freedom. In a deeply personal conversation, Miler reflects on her journey through trafficking, loss, and ultimately, what she describes as a life transformed by faith in Jesus.
Miler explains that sharing her painful past is rooted in a sense of purpose. “He told me he would make a triumph out of my past,” she says, expressing hope that her story will encourage others—especially those still trapped in exploitation—to believe that freedom is possible.
A central moment in the episode is her remarkable reunion with the daughter she was forced to give up for adoption while being trafficked. After decades of searching, she found her through a restaurant linked to her name. The discovery led not only to reconnection with her daughter, but also to grandchildren and great-grandchildren she never expected to meet. “Without Jesus, this wouldn’t have happened,” she says.
The interview also revisits the darker chapters of her life, including how she was manipulated by a “lover boy” into prostitution and endured years of control and abuse. She recounts moments of deep despair, as well as a near-fatal attack that she survived—experiences she now views through the lens of faith and survival.
Today, Miler works with women affected by prostitution in cities including Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Vienna. She describes her role not as giving back, but as a privilege—walking alongside others as they rebuild their lives. She also challenges the idea that prostitution is freely chosen, emphasizing the coercion and hardship many women face.
Now able to live openly in her true identity after years of using false names, Miler says her story is ultimately about freedom. “It’s real freedom,” she reflects, “not what the world offers.”
