Brazilian student sells virginity to build homes for the poor

Catarina Migliorini [Photo:Courtesy]

A Brazilian student is auctioning off her virginity to the highest bidder to raise cash to build homes for poverty-stricken families.

Catarina Migliorini, 20, is set to plough the money - currently standing at $155,000 (Ksh13m) - into a non-governmental organisation which will construct modern houses in her southern Brazilian home state of Santa Catarina.

Rejecting claims she is a prostitute, she said she still believed in love but saw the opportunity to make a positive difference to the world.

But the physical education student has sparked controversy because she will be followed every step of the way by an Australian film crew for a documentary film called Virgins Wanted.

She said: 'I saw this as a business. I have the opportunity to travel, to be part of a movie and get a bonus with it.

'If you only do it once in your life then you are not a prostitute, just like if you take one amazing photograph it does not automatically make you a photographer.