An Instagram model has claimed a sex doll company have created a racy figurine based on her appearance and are promoting it using her name and image.
Yael Cohen Aris, from Israel, claims manufacturer Irontech Dolls have modelled a sex doll on her without her consent – with almost idential features, down to the distinctive beauty mark on her bottom lip.
The former programmer claims the company have been selling the doll under the name ‘Yael’ and promoting it on online forums using the model’s own real-life images.
Yael is now demanding the item be pulled off the shelves and is seeking help to take legal action against the firm.
Model Yael Cohen Aris, from Israel, (pictured left) claims manufacturer Irontech Dolls have modelled a sex doll on her without her consent. Right: The racy figurine Yael said is being sold using her name after being modelled on her face and body without permission
Appearing on This Morning today, she said: ‘I don’t have anything against the sex doll industry, the problem here is they did it without my consent, without my knowledge.
‘It’s double wrong because it’s connected to my identity – it’s not just a doll that looks like me, they never hid the fact it’s developed from me.’
After joining the Israel Defense Forces, Yael began working in computer programming – but soon found that her true passion lies in social media influencing.
‘In my career, it’s mandatory in Israel going to the army, I wanted to extend my years a little more because programming was something I wanted to do’, she explained.
The sex doll (pictured) includes features down to the distinctive beauty mark on Yael’s bottom lip
‘Then I started using Instagram and social media and saw the potential. It was my childhood dreams to become an actress and I decided to use social media.’
Yael has since amassed a following of over one million on Instagram, and it was one of her followers who initially warned her of the doll.
She said: ‘I received a message from one of my followers. I opened the link which led me to some forum.
‘At the time they were speaking about my prototypes and few months later it was a sex doll for sale, then I realised the scale of it and what was going on.’
Instagram influencer Yael (right posing for her Instagram followers) has amassed a following of over one million on Instagram, and it was one of her followers who initially warned her of the doll (left)
After joining the Israel Defense Forces, Yael began working in computer programming – but soon found that her true passion lay in social media influencing
In July 2019, Yael took to Instagram to vent her frustration, sharing images of the forum and doll with the caption: ‘I found out that a big company made a SEX DOLL about me WITHOUT my permission or me knowing.
‘No it’s not a joke, It’s real. They even named the doll “Yael”. I am still shocked. don’t really know what to do…
‘You probably saw on my stories that it came out on TV shows in my country, And It’s time to share it with you guys too.’
Yael says she doesn’t want any financial compensation from the firm, but is simply keen to get the product off the shelves and discover ‘how things went wrong and why.’
In July 2019, Yael took to Instagram to vent her frustration, sharing images of the forum and doll with the caption: ‘I found out that a big company made a SEX DOLL about me WITHOUT my permission or me knowing’
Appearing on This Morning today, she said: ‘I don’t have anything against the sex doll industry, the problem here is they did it without my consent, without my knowledge’
‘It’s not just about a beauty mark and my name, she said. ‘Because sex dolls are still just dolls – but once it was connected to my identity and image and videos, social media there is no mistaking here’.
When asked whether she would accept a percentage of the profit from sales of the doll, Yael said: ‘No, I think first of all it should get off the shelves and then maybe we could talk about how things went wrong and why.
‘I’m not talking about compensation, I think learning a lesson from this would be the best thing to come out of this story.’
MailOnline has contacted Irontech Dolls for comment.