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Model Was Scalped Before “Rich Kids” Dumped Her On Dubai Roadside
Young woman with crutches in the background, sitting indoors, discussing being scalped before rich kids dumped her roadside in Dubai.
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Model Was Scalped Before “Rich Kids” Dumped Her On Dubai Roadside

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Horrific details are still emerging about the tragedy suffered by a Ukrainian model who was left brutally beaten on the side of a road in Dubai.

Maria Kovalchuk, who claims she was attacked by a group of entitled young Russian people, now reveals that she was in fact scalped with a knife that left a massive scar on her head.

The 20-year-old adult content creator was in Dubai at a hotel party when she missed her flight. She befriended a group of people who she says took advantage of her. 

Highlights
  • Maria Kovalchuk, the 20 year old Ukrainian adult content creator who was found severely beaten on the side of the road in Dubai, says her attackers tried to scalp her.
  • According to her and her mother, Kovalchuk’s attackers took a knife and made a slit from the top of her head down her face.
  • Kovalchuk is still recovering from her injuries which also include broken limbs and spine.
RELATED:

    Maria Kovalchuk says the people who beat her also tried to cut off her scalp

    Woman pushing a wheelchair outdoors with a scenic mountain backdrop, symbolizing care after scalping incident in Dubai.

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    Image credits: Осторожно: Собчак

    Young blonde woman posing on Dubai balcony with skyline in background representing model's mom and scalped story.

    Image credits: Instagram/marielouna__

    Speaking from her rehabilitation center in Norway, Kovalchuk and her mother described the ordeal.

    It started in March, when Kovalchuk was discovered unconscious by a passerby on a road in Dubai. She showed signs of catastrophic trauma: a shattered spine, multiple broken legs and arms, a shattered shoulder, and severe head injuries.

    Blonde woman wearing sunglasses and white shirt overlooking Dubai coastline from a high vantage point on a sunny day.

    Image credits: Instagram/marielouna__

    In interviews since her ordeal, Kovalchuk has revealed a massive scar on her head, seemingly caused by her attackers trying to cut her scalp off.

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    Medical reports and family testimony show that her hair was violently cut off with a knife. Her scalp was partially torn away—not attached but displaced—and required extensive surgery. 

    Young woman in a red bikini posing on a sandy beach with rocks and trees, linked to model's mom scalping story.

    Image credits: Instagram/marielouna__

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    Hospital staff confirmed, per her mother Anna, that the injury was not caused in the hospital but was pre-existing when she arrived. 

    Media report that her mother Anna said that her daughter’s hair “was shorn with a knife across the head, from centre down to the eye,” she said pointing to a massive wound that had to be stitched back together.

    No hair fragments were reported at the scene, suggesting the hair was cut from her head, not displaced in a fall or accident. 

    Kovalchuk says she was brutally attacked by the group of Russians

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    Woman sharing her story about being scalped before being abandoned on a Dubai roadside by rich kids.

    Image credits: Осторожно: Собчак

    Kovalchuk has said that she met two young Russian men at her hotel after she missed a flight to Thailand.

    They offered to fly her there in their private jet, so she accepted their offer to hang out with them.

    Soon, Kovalchuk says, they began drinking heavily and acting aggressively toward her.

    Young woman wearing a hospital gown sitting on a hospital bed, recovering after being scalped in Dubai incident.

    Image credits: Instagram/marielouna__

    They took her passport, she said, and when she tried to escape, they dragged her back into their room.

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    Finally, she says she ran away from the hotel after escaping on the balcony. She says she ran into a building that was still under construction. 

    The next thing she remembers is being taken into an ambulance from the roadside. Kovalchuk now believes she was severely beaten by the men. 

    The official account concluded that Kovalchuk accidentally fell 

    Young woman in a wheelchair indoors, related to model's mom revealing she was scalped before being dumped roadside in Dubai.

    Image credits: Осторожно: Собчак

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    The police account of the events that night are vastly different from Kovalchuk’s.

    Police say Kovalchuk was injured after entering a building that was under construction, and accidentally falling from a high location. 

    The official investigation concluded the event was an “unintended accident.”

    Young woman with long blonde hair and natural makeup, related to model's mom revealing scalp injury before Dubai roadside incident.

    Image credits: Instagram/marielouna__

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    However, experts interviewed by other media say Kovalchuk’s injuries were inconsistent with a fall and more likely were caused by a violent assault and possibly being struck by a vehicle.

    Kovalchuk underwent nine major surgeries—three on each leg, two on her spine, and a final procedure to repair her shoulder blade.

    Interestingly, all of Kovalchuk’s medical bills were covered by city authorities.

    Kovalchuk is still receiving threats even as she recovers in Norway

    Young woman in a wheelchair at home, discussing being scalped and abandoned on Dubai roadside by rich kids.

    Image credits: Осторожно: Собчак

    Still, Kovalchuk says recovery and rehabilitation have been slow-going. 

    She remains mobility-impaired, relying on crutches or a wheelchair. Her injuries have left long-term consequences, with one leg likely permanently numb, she said in an interview with The Sun.

    Mother pushing her daughter in a wheelchair along a rural path, illustrating model's mom revealing scalp injury and roadside dumping.

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    Her mother, Anna, said that CCTV footage from the hotel and construction site have been erased, preventing any independent verification. 

    Anna also noted that her daughter is receiving threatening messages, including: “We’ll find you even in Norway”—a warning meant to intimidate her into silence.

    View of Dubai skyline and waterfront from a balcony, relating to model's mom revealing she was scalped before roadside incident

    Image credits: Instagram/marielouna__

    Her family has launched a public appeal and crowdfunding effort to cover ongoing medical and legal costs, while her case has drawn international attention to the risks facing vulnerable influencers abroad.

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    The topic of so-called Porta Potty Parties has been linked to the case, although it has not been confirmed.

    The so-called parties involve paying young women very large amounts of money to engage in degrading things, like acting as a human toilet, or bestiality.

    A woman and her daughter sit indoors, sharing a serious moment while discussing the model's mom revealed scalping incident.

    Image credits: Youtube/Телеканал 1+1

    Netizens can’t get enough of the awful attack that left a young Ukranian model severely beaten

    Comment from Mel Cullen expressing concern about why someone would put themselves in dangerous situations on a social media post.

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    Comment on social media by Paul Dickinson about being blinded by cash, related to model's mom scalped and abandoned on Dubai roadside.

    Comment by Top fan Gaye Gabrielle Sherlock questioning why someone would stay with a stranger in a social media post.

    Text message screenshot from Jam Jamjam describing missing a flight and being offered a lift on a private jet by a stranger.

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    Kasia Jenkins commenting on the lack of genuine modelling in Dubai and the reality for girls pursuing modelling there.

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    Screenshot of a Facebook comment discussing violence against women and hostile culture in the Middle East.

    Model's mom shares her experience of being scalped and abandoned by rich kids on Dubai roadside.

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    Comment about money and incidents happening in Dubai, with emojis expressing disbelief and surprise.

    Comment by Tabitha McDaniel expressing sadness and hope for recovery after model's mom was scalped and abandoned in Dubai.

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    Comment mentioning Dubai and skepticism about safety, referencing an incident involving a model's mom who was scalped.

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    Comment by Vincent Eells expressing concern about mistreatment, highlighting that no one should be treated harshly.

    Screenshot of a social media comment discussing respect and recovery related to model's mom who was scalped.

    Poll Question

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    Julie Christine Noce

    Julie Christine Noce

    Writer, Community member

    Read more »

    Hola! I’m a Julie, a giant panda currently living in the lush green bamboo groves of Barcelona. I spend my days lounging in the shade, munching on snacks, and trying to avoid becoming an Instagram influencer. Life’s good. BP is my absolute favorite place to find funny, weird, and heartwarming stories. I especially love the animal content (have you seen the dog wearing a panda costume? 🤣 You know he didn't put that on himself! Oh humans) I might be a panda, but even I get bored sometimes—so BP to the rescue! 🐼💻✨

    Read less »
    Julie Christine Noce

    Julie Christine Noce

    Writer, Community member

    Hola! I’m a Julie, a giant panda currently living in the lush green bamboo groves of Barcelona. I spend my days lounging in the shade, munching on snacks, and trying to avoid becoming an Instagram influencer. Life’s good. BP is my absolute favorite place to find funny, weird, and heartwarming stories. I especially love the animal content (have you seen the dog wearing a panda costume? 🤣 You know he didn't put that on himself! Oh humans) I might be a panda, but even I get bored sometimes—so BP to the rescue! 🐼💻✨

    What do you think ?
    Ms.GB
    Community Member
    4 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It says a lot that 99% of these comments are about how careless she was and not about how horrible these men were, how anyone could do that to another human being and how terrible it is that it's being covered up. Imagine being a boy reading all these comments and the main takeaway being that the victim was careless and this incident was to be expected rather than people willing to go scorched earth to hunt down monsters like this and hold them accountable. All I see is people calling this girl stupid and helping the assailants cover up and excuse what they've done because someone was an easy target.

    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    4 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's a lot that one would want to change about the world, but one has to be realistic. I don't think anyone is attempting to justify what they did; but being aware that the situation is known to be risky, it's naïve not to take care about where one goes and with whom. Yes we'd all like men to stop r@ping women, but given that just asking nicely isn't going to work, people have a certain responsibility to protect themselves. The fact of being a 20 year old "adult content" creator would suggest that she needs some protection from herself. The middle east is not safe for single women, particularly attractive white ones.

    Load More Replies...
    Earonn -
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "You shouldn't have done this, this, and that" - yeah, because the swine who did that to her then would have been good boys and never hurt anyone, right?

    Cee Cee
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A change of career path urgently needed and I would suggest not going to Dubai or its neighbours. Money talks in such places and I suspect would baksheesh their way out of trouble. I hope she is recovering and getting adequate psychological support.

    Load More Comments
    Ms.GB
    Community Member
    4 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It says a lot that 99% of these comments are about how careless she was and not about how horrible these men were, how anyone could do that to another human being and how terrible it is that it's being covered up. Imagine being a boy reading all these comments and the main takeaway being that the victim was careless and this incident was to be expected rather than people willing to go scorched earth to hunt down monsters like this and hold them accountable. All I see is people calling this girl stupid and helping the assailants cover up and excuse what they've done because someone was an easy target.

    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    4 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's a lot that one would want to change about the world, but one has to be realistic. I don't think anyone is attempting to justify what they did; but being aware that the situation is known to be risky, it's naïve not to take care about where one goes and with whom. Yes we'd all like men to stop r@ping women, but given that just asking nicely isn't going to work, people have a certain responsibility to protect themselves. The fact of being a 20 year old "adult content" creator would suggest that she needs some protection from herself. The middle east is not safe for single women, particularly attractive white ones.

    Load More Replies...
    Earonn -
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "You shouldn't have done this, this, and that" - yeah, because the swine who did that to her then would have been good boys and never hurt anyone, right?

    Cee Cee
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A change of career path urgently needed and I would suggest not going to Dubai or its neighbours. Money talks in such places and I suspect would baksheesh their way out of trouble. I hope she is recovering and getting adequate psychological support.

    Load More Comments
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