{{Short description|American actress (born 1991)}} {{Use American English|date=August 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = India Oxenberg | image = Noobz Movie Shoot - India Oxenberg.jpg | caption = Oxenberg in 2011 | birth_name = India Riven Oxenberg | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|6|7}} | birth_place = Malibu, California, U.S. | spouse = {{marriage|Patrick D'Ignazio|3 December 2020}} | partner = | family = Karađorđević | years_active = 2001–present | occupation = {{flatlist| * Actress * television personality }} | mother = Catherine Oxenberg | children = 1 }} '''India Riven Oxenberg''' (born June 7, 1991) is an American actress and documentary film producer. A granddaughter of Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, she is a relative of the House of Karađorđević, the former royal family of Serbia and, later, Yugoslavia. Oxenberg began her career as a child actress, with small roles in film and television projects that her mother, Catherine Oxenberg, and then-stepfather, Casper Van Dien, were involved in. As a teenager, she was a cast member of the reality television series ''I Married a Princess''.
From 2011 to 2018, Oxenberg was involved in NXIVM, an American multi-level marketing company that was later exposed as a cult. While in NXIVM she was introduced to a secret group "DOS" and was groomed to be a sexual partner of NXIVM's founder, Keith Raniere. In 2020, she published the book ''Still Learning: A Memoir''. She also produced and stars in the documentary series ''Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult'', which details her time in the cult.
== Early life and education == Oxenberg was born on June 7, 1991, to actress Catherine Oxenberg and William Weitz Shaffer.<ref name=elle>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a34372716/india-oxenberg-nxivm-interview/ |title=I Was In NXIVM For 7 Years. Here's the Truth |author1=Oxenberg, India |author2=Minutaglio, Rose |date=October 19, 2020 |accessdate=November 10, 2020 |magazine=Elle}}</ref> Oxenberg's father was arrested in 1992 for smuggling marijuana from Thailand, reportedly profiting $50 million from drug trading.<ref name=hollywood /> Her maternal grandparents are Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia and Howard Oxenberg, a Jewish dress manufacturer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rdl.com.lb/2008/q4/4188/nemanquezpas4.html|title=Le Bal des Débutantes à l'hôtel de Crillon|website=La Revue du Liban}}</ref><ref name=elle /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SugCAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Dad%27s+jewish%2C+so+I%27ve+always+considered+my+sister%2C+Catherina%2C+and+I+to+be+authentic+Jewish%22&pg=PA28|work=New York Magazine |first=Christopher |last=Mason |date=July 21, 1997 |title=Royal Flush |page=28 |via=Google Books |access-date=December 14, 2020}}</ref> As a great-granddaughter of Prince Regent Paul of Yugoslavia (Elizabeth's father), Oxenberg is a descendant of the House of Karađorđević, which ruled Serbia and Yugoslavia. Oxenberg is also a relative of the British royal family, the Danish royal family, and the Greek royal family through her great-grandmother, Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popsugar.com/node/47834741|title=The Vow: The Surprising Connection Between Catherine Oxenberg and the Royal Family |first=Monica |last=Sisavat |date=October 5, 2020 |website=POPSUGAR Entertainment}}</ref><ref name=decider>{{Cite web|url=https://decider.com/2020/09/14/the-vow-catherine-oxenberg-india-oxenberg/ |title='The Vow' on HBO: Who Are Catherine and India Oxenberg? |date=September 14, 2020 |publisher=Decider}}</ref> Finnish philanthropist Aurora Karamzin was her maternal great-great-great-great-grandmother.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://royalfamily.org/dinasty/hrh-prince-paul-of-yugoslavia-regent/ |title=HRH Prince Paul of Yugoslavia (Regent) |website=Royal Family of Serbia |access-date=October 25, 2023}}</ref> She is a niece of writer and fashion designer Christina Oxenberg.
She grew up in Malibu, California, and graduated from Malibu High School.<ref name=wwd>{{Cite web|url=https://wwd.com/eye/people/having-a-ball-1870660/ |title=Having a Ball |first=Amanda |last=FitzSimons |date=November 25, 2008}}</ref>
In 2008, Oxenberg was presented to society at Le Bal des débutantes at the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris.<ref name=vanityfair>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2009/12/the-crillon-ball-celebrates-24-princesses-and-one-lady |title=The Crillon Ball: 24 Princess Gowns and One Lady |author=Vanity Fair |magazine=Vanity Fair|date=December 3, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sipwithsocialites.com/new-york/le-bal-des-debutantes-2013.html |title=Le Bal des Débutantes 2013 |date=November 30, 2013}}</ref> She was one of two descendants of the Karađorđević dynasty to make her debut at Le Bal that year, alongside her cousin Victoria de Silva, the daughter of Princess Katarina and Sir Desmond de Silva.<ref name=vanityfair /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lebal.paris/en/editions/le-bal-2008/ |title=Official program |date=2008 |website=Le Bal Paris |format=PDF |access-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913015350/https://www.lebal.paris/en/editions/le-bal-2008/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Career == [[File:Noobz Movie Shoot - the Pixies, rival gamer girls, featuring Zelda Williams and India Oxenberg.jpg|thumb|262px|Oxenberg (right) with cast members of ''Noobz'' in 2011]] Oxenberg's first film was the 2001 television drama ''The Miracle of the Cards''. In 2002, Oxenberg played the role of Mattie in the science fiction television film ''The Vector File''.<ref name=hollywood /><ref name=heavy>{{Cite web|url=https://heavy.com/news/2018/08/india-oxenberg/ |title=India Oxenberg: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |first=S. M. |last=Walsh |date=August 6, 2018 |publisher=Heavy.com}}</ref>
Oxenberg was a cast member on the 2005 Lifetime reality television series ''I Married a Princess'', which followed her family while her mother was married to Casper Van Dien.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4605092 |title=Lifetime Channel's 'I Married a Princess' |website=NPR.org}}</ref><ref name=hollywood /> That year, she also had minor role in the video game adaptation of the film ''Starship Troopers'' and a role in the Syfy original movie ''The Fallen Ones''.<ref name=heavy />
In 2009, she had a small role in the Disney film ''Princess Protection Program''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://video.disney.com/watch/princess-myths-princess-protection-program-4be70e782af1ab6a6e9faf04|title=Princess Myths – Princess Protection Program Featurette|via=video.disney.com}}</ref> In 2012, she portrayed a Pixie Teammate in the comedy film ''Noobz''.<ref name=heavy />
== Personal life == In 2018, Oxenberg met Patrick D'Ignazio, a chef, while working as a manager for a restaurant in New York City.<ref name="peopletv" /> They got engaged in October 2019 and were married civilly (notary public) in Los Angeles on December 3, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberto |first=Melissa |date=October 18, 2019 |title=Hope After Heartbreak! Allison Mack's Former NXIVM Slave India Oxenberg Engaged To Chef Boyfriend |url=https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/10/allison-mack-former-nxivm-cult-slave-india-oxenberg-engaged-to-patrick-dignazio/ |work=Radar Online}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Block |first=Jenny |date=March 9, 2022 |title=Tying and Re-Tying the Knot |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/09/style/covid-sequel-weddings.html |work=The New York Times}}</ref> The couple moved to Key West in 2022, where D’Ignazio opened a restaurant.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Finan |first=Eileen |date=September 20, 2023 |title=India Oxenberg Opens Up About Her Healing Journey Five Years After Leaving the NXIVM Cult (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/india-oxenberg-on-healing-after-leaving-the-nxivm-cult-exclusive-7971654 |work=People}}</ref> Oxenberg and D’Ignazio had their first child, a girl, in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2024 |title=India Oxenberg Is a Mom! Podcaster Welcomes First Baby, a Daughter, with Husband Patrick D'Ignazio |url=https://people.com/india-oxenberg-welcomes-first-baby-a-girl-with-husband-patrick-d-ignazio-8684646 |work=People}}</ref>
=== NXIVM === After attending college for one year, Oxenberg, alongside her mother, enrolled in a self-help entrepreneurship course hosted by NXIVM, following a recommendation from a family friend.<ref name=elle /><ref name=vice /><ref name=business>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/nxivm-survivor-india-oxenberg-went-from-aspiring-entrepreneur-to-cult-2020-10 |title=How India Oxenberg went from an aspiring entrepreneur with dreams of launching a catering business to being lured into a cult |first=Melkorka |last=Licea |website=Business Insider |date=October 22, 2020 |accessdate=November 10, 2020}}</ref> While they initially started the program together, Oxenberg's mother eventually withdrew.<ref name=elle /> She was mentored by Sarah Edmondson, Mark Vicente, and Bonnie Piesse.<ref name=vice /> In January 2015, after five years in NXIVM, Oxenberg was approached by Allison Mack about joining a secret sorority, "DOS".<ref name=people>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/crime/india-oxenberg-afraid-former-nxivm-master-allison-mack/ |title=India Oxenberg Was 'Afraid' of Former Nxivm 'Master' Allison Mack — 'But She Can't Hurt Me Anymore' |website=People}}</ref><ref name=people2 /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/india-oxenberg-nxivm-allison-mack-keith-raniere-seduced-interview |title=India Oxenberg On NXIVM, Her New Docuseries & What She Thinks Of Allison Mack |website=Bustle|date=October 26, 2020 }}</ref> In DOS, Mack became a mentor to Oxenberg.<ref name=people /><ref name=elle /> Oxenberg was instructed to provide personal family secrets and pose for nude photographs for Mack, who also limited the amount of food Oxenberg could eat and required her to cook and clean for her while living with Mack in Albany, New York.<ref name=people /><ref name=elle /><ref name=today>{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/news/india-oxenberg-opens-about-nxivm-cult-leader-keith-raniere-t197018 |title='I felt so much stronger': India Oxenberg speaks out about NXIVM leader's sentencing |website=Today|date=November 6, 2020 }}</ref> Throughout this process, Oxenberg was groomed to become a sexual partner for NXIVM's founder and the leader of DOS, Keith Raniere.<ref name=people /><ref name=elle /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.com/india-oxenberg-princess-yugoslavias-granddaughter-talks-about-nxivms-alleged-sex-cult-3070368 |title=India Oxenberg, Princess Of Yugoslavia's Granddaughter, Talks About Nxivm's Alleged Sex Cult |first=Aayush |last=Sharma |date=October 26, 2020 |website=International Business Times}}</ref> She was one of multiple women in the organization who became Raniere's sexual partners.<ref name=vice>{{Cite web|last=Berman |first=Sarah |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/nxivm-survivor-india-oxenberg-on-why-she-didnt-believe-she-was-brainwashed/ |title=NXIVM Survivor India Oxenberg on Why She Didn't Believe She Was Brainwashed |magazine=Vice |date=October 26, 2020 |access-date=November 10, 2020}}</ref> In January 2016, Oxenberg was held down and branded with the initials of Raniere.<ref name=people2>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/crime/india-oxenberg-branded-nxivm-keith-raniere-allison-mack/ |title=Catherine Oxenberg's Daughter India Recalls Harrowing Moment She Was Branded in Nxivm Sex Cult |website=People}}</ref> She was told, at the time, that the brand was a representation of the "elements" and was unaware that it was actually Raniere's initials.<ref name=people2 /><ref name=hollywood>{{Cite web|url=https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/who-is-india-oxenberg-nxivm-sex-cult-catherine-daughter-3096575/ |title=India Oxenberg: 5 Things To Know About Catherine Oxenberg's Daughter Starring In New NXIVM Doc |first=Jason |last=Brow |date=October 18, 2020|website=Hollywood Life}}</ref> Oxenberg left NXIVM in 2018.<ref name=peopletv />
While Oxenberg was involved in NXIVM, her mother Catherine tried to get her out of the organization and expose the cult through media in 2017.<ref name=peopletv>{{Cite web |url=https://peopletv.com/video/catherine-india-oxenberg/ |title=Catherine & India Oxenberg: Surviving NXIVM |website=peopletv.com |access-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108004735/https://peopletv.com/video/catherine-india-oxenberg/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=people2 /> In 2018, Catherine wrote the book ''Captive: A Mother's Crusade to Save Her Daughter from a Terrifying Cult''.<ref name=people /> In 2019, Catherine produced the Lifetime television movie ''Escaping the NXIVM Cult: A Mother's Fight to Save Her Daughter''. Oxenberg officially left NXIVM in the summer of 2018 and moved back to Malibu with her mother.<ref name=vanity>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/10/india-oxenberg-opens-up-about-her-familys-nxivm-nightmare |title=India Oxenberg Opens Up About Her Family's NXIVM Nightmare: "It's Like Freaking Shakespeare" |first=Julie |last=Miller |magazine=Vanity Fair|date=October 13, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/why-india-oxenberg-thinks-nxivm-founder-keith-raniere-deserves-life-in-prison-exclusive-155376 |title=India Oxenberg Thinks NXIVM's Keith Raniere Deserves Life in Prison |website=Entertainment Tonight|date=October 27, 2020 }}</ref>
Oxenberg's time in the cult was discussed in the HBO 2020 documentary ''The Vow''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/keith-raniere-nxivm-india-oxenberg-sex-trafficking-hearing-b1376288.html |title=Keith Raniere slammed as 'entitled little princess' by former NXIVM member at sentencing hearing |date=October 27, 2020 |website=The Independent}}</ref> Oxenberg produced and starred in the 2020 Starz documentary series ''Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a34371878/india-oxenberg-nvixm-now/ |title=India Oxenberg Says NXIVM's Keith Raniere Starved Her to Look Like a 12-Year-Old |first=Samantha |last=Vincenty |date=October 27, 2020 |website=Oprah Magazine}}</ref> The documentary details her life while she was an active member in NXIVM.<ref name=people /><ref name=peopletv /><ref name=today /> In 2020, she also published the memoir ''Still Learning: A Memoir'', which revisits the emotional, physical, and sexual abuse she endured as a member of NXIVM, and her steps to recovery.<ref name=elle /><ref name=vanity />
Oxenberg had her NXIVM brand covered up with a tattoo of a mandala and the inscription "ancora imparo" (i'm still learning) by a tattoo artist in New York City's East Village.<ref name=elle />
== Filmography == * ''The Miracle of the Cards'' as a stand-in (2001) * ''The Vector File'' as Mattie (2002) * ''I Married a Princess'' as herself (2005) * ''Starship Troopers'' (2005) * ''The Fallen Ones'' as kitten wrangler (2005) * ''Princess Protection Program'' as herself (2009) * ''Noobz'' as Pixie teammate (2012) * ''The Vow'' as herself (2020) * ''Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult'' as herself (2020)
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|1172949}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oxenberg, India}} Category:Living people Category:1991 births Category:21st-century American actresses Category:American socialites Category:American people of Finnish descent Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent Category:American people of Serbian descent Category:American child actresses Category:American documentary film producers Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:American women memoirists Category:American memoirists Category:Film producers from California Category:Karađorđević dynasty Category:NXIVM people Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:Actresses from Malibu, California India Category:American women documentary filmmakers Category:American people of Danish descent