Influencer claims she was detained entering US ‘for looking like an escort’

A Gold Coast social media star claims she spent five hours in detention entering the US for being “pretty” and mistaken for “an escort”.

Australian influencer Mikaela Testa has claimed she was detained by US customs for “looking like an escort” as she tried to enter the country for the third time this year.

The 22-year-old revealed she had landed in the US but was detained for four hours before she was allowed to enter the country in a post shared on Instagram.

The Gold Coast-based social media star shared her ordeal after receiving a message from a follower who said the same thing had happened to them.

“They didn’t let me in to the country because they thought I was an escort,” the follower said, prompting Mikaela to share her own “scary” experience.

Mikaela Testa claimed she was detained after being mistaken for being an escort. Picture: Instagram/Mikaela Testa

Mikaela, who earns a living selling racy images and videos on a popular subscription-based site, said she met “so many pretty girls” while in detention, suggesting they had been held because of their appearance.

“It’s actually so scary and sad, they treat you like one too,” she said.

“I feel like they think this about any pretty girls. I met so many in detention last night.

“You aren’t allowed to touch your phone and you have to watch trash American TV advertisements for five hours.”

News.com.au has contacted Mikaela for comment.

Mikaela later updated fans in a TikTok video, revealing she had tried to avoid the situation by underdressing and was certain she was going to be sent home to Australia.

She was with a friend, and she added there were other Australian girls who recognised her, and the pair were the last to be dismissed.

She also said they went through her phone, adding they would have seen some “explicit” content.

Mikaela claimed she was detained trying to enter the US. Picture: Instagram/Mikaela Testa

Mikaela shared her feelings about the ordeal. Picture: Instagram/Mikaela Testa

Mikaela is currently doing her third stint in the US in 2022, sharing her travel adventures with followers.

Her most recent adventures in Indonesia struck a cord after she went to a “top secret” meat market that sold items such as dog.

Her following was divided, with some slamming her for the act while others said she was just experiencing a culture.

Mikaela was forced to apologise, claiming she could become insensitive when travelling and she should never have posted the video.

It comes after another travel video, this time in the US, landed her in hot water with her following.

A Gold Coast social media star claims she spent five hours in detention entering the US for being “pretty” and mistaken for “an escort”. Picture: Instagram

During her trip to the US in September, she posted a “day in the life” video while in Los Angeles, California, with a friend that was heavily criticised.

Mikaela and her friend rented a Tesla and spent $130 on salads before driving to the infamous Cecil Hotel, an affordable housing complex that 10,000 people call home.

The building – also known as the most haunted building in the city – is located on Skid Row, an area known for poverty and homelessness.

Mikaela said she was “obsessed” with the Cecil Hotel, which was the subject of a Netflix documentary, but when driving to it she broke down crying.

Immediately after, she asked which money was better – “washable Australian money or the American money with blood stains on it”.

But, the young influencer’s actions were mocked online by other social media users.

“The homelessness makes me cry…..which money is prettier,” one person commented on the clip.

But, others defended Mikaela, with one congratulating her for going to the “most dangerous block in America”.

Another added: “People don’t realise what LA is or even Hollywood is, like the amount of homeless people is sad and insane Cali(fornia) is very expensive to live there.”

Originally published as Influencer claims she was detained entering US ‘for looking like an escort’