This is Valentina Sampaio and is the first transgender model to become part of Victoria's Secret. Although Victoria's Secret and parent company L Brands have not yet commented on the authenticity of the news, the model's posts on Instagram - where she writes as part of the Victoria's Secret PINK photo set - make you think Sampaio is the first transgender model that is accepted.
"I'm sure they are trying to find new ways to bring the show, which is the best show in the world," she told the Daily Telegraph in Australia referring to the cancellation of the annual Victoria's Secret show.
Valentina was born in Aquiraz, Ceará, a fishing village in Brazil. The model has been on the cover of Vogue and is an image of L'Oréal. She was born of male sex, but at the age of eight, psychologists defined her as tragic. At the age of ten, she was named Valentina.
Her participation in Victoria's Secret campaigns is a step forward not only in the model's career but also in the company, which has recently been sharply criticized for lack of diversity.
Edward Razek - the early creator of Victoria's Secret Lines, who has been selecting all models for more than 15 years - said that "transgender models could not be part of the show" because "the show is meant to it's fun and it's fantasy. "
Certainly no such comment was expected from someone who was named by Forbes in 2007 as one of the five most important people in modeling, so harsh criticism was not enough. Razek then apologized and said that "transcendental models will definitely be part of Victoria's Secret".
