IN A bizarre incident, 22-year-old Natalie Dylan (name changed), has reportedly announced to auction her virginity to the highest bidder, and she says she’ll use the money to finance her studies. Reports say Dylan received a $250,000 offer on September 10, but she hopes to net up to one million dollars from the auction, which is taking place in Nevada at the infamous Moonlight Bunny Ranch, a legalised brothel. The auction will be conducted online at the website, bunnyranch and the deal will be consummated at the Bunny Ranch, where Dylan’s sister already works.

Dylan, who had earlier approached ebay but was turned down, plans to pursue a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Dylan said that she has no moral issues with auctioning off her virginity. "I don’t have a moral dilemma with it," she said. "We live in a capitalist society. Why shouldn’t I be allowed to capitalise on my virginity? I understand some people may condemn me, but this is empowering. I’m using what I have to better myself. "

Following in her footstep is another brunette, a 20-year-old Italian model and reality star Raffaella Fico, who has put her virginity up for sale for one million Euro (US $1.5 million).

Fico, who appeared in the Italian version of Big Brother earlier this year, says she would use the money to buy a house in Rome and pay for her acting classes.

She told the Italian magazine ’Chi’ that she has no qualms with looks. "If I don’t like him, I will just have a glass of wine and forget about it," Fico said. " I can’t wait to see who’s going to pull out the money to have me."

Insisting that Fico is still a virgin, her brother said, "She’s never had a boyfriend. I swear on my mother’s grave. She’s a devout Catholic and prays every night."

However, Fico and Dylan are not the first women to put their virginity for auction. In 2005, 18-year-old Peruvian model, also put herself up for sale to help pay her family’s medical bills, but ended up turning down a $1.5 million offer.