Victoria’s Secret Breaks New Ground, Hiring First Transgender Model VIctoria Sampaio

Victoria’s Secret has reportedly hired its first transgender model, Valentina Sampaio.  The Brazilian model and actress took to her Instagram on Saturday to share a behind-the-scenes shot of her photo shoot for an upcoming Victoria’s Secret Pink campaign. While the L Brands-owned company has not responded to requests for comment on Sampaio’s casting, the model’s agent, Erio Zanon, confirmed the news in an interview with CNN on Monday.

Sampaio is a 22-year-old transgender model from Brazil who began her career walking in São Paulo Fashion Week. She was subsequently cast in the ad campaign for the collaboration between L’Oréal Paris and Balmain in 2017. She also appeared on the cover of Vogue Paris for the March 2017 issue, marking the first time a transgender model appeared on the cover of any Vogue edition. She has since appeared on other Vogue covers, including the Brazilian and German editions, and on the covers of Elle Mexico and Brazil and in the pages of Vanity Fair Italy and Marie Claire Brazil. Sampaio has also worked with brands such as Philipp Plein, Moschino and Pollini, among others.

The hire has been a long time coming. The company’s Chief Marketing Officer, Ed Razek, came under fire last year for comments he made to Vogue regarding including trans models in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. “Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy,” he said.  Earlier this year, it was also reported that the annual show is possibly being canceled, due to dwindling viewership. Last week, it was announced that Razek would be resigning from his role.  For a brand that has routinely come under fire for the lack of diversity and inclusivity among its models, Sampaio’s casting could represent a wind of change at the nation’s most famous lingerie retailer.

Reaction on social media has been overwhelmingly positive, and many celebrities have shown their support for Sampaio and Victoria’s Secret over the milestone, including actress and activist Laverne Cox, who commented on Sampaio’s Instagram post, “Wow finally!” Other Victoria’s Secret Angels have also praised Sampaio on her post, including models Elsa Hosk, Lily Aldridge and Gizele Oliveira.

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