Transgender Victoria’s Secret model Valentina Sampaio hits back at haters after show debut
As someone who has been following the evolution of the fashion industry for decades, I must say that the journey of Victoria’s Secret is quite intriguing. From its humble beginnings to becoming a global phenomenon, it’s a classic tale of rags to riches, tainted by scandals and societal changes.
In a more straightforward and casual manner, we could say: The transgender Victoria’s Secret model, Valentina Sampaio, responded to criticism online following her appearance at this week’s resurrected fashion show.
In a groundbreaking move, Sampaio, aged 27, who made history as the brand’s initial openly transgender model in 2019, shared the runway with another transgender luminary, Alex Consani, age 21, marking a first for the show. However, this event was met with criticism from fans.
She informed TMZ: “It was a long-held aspiration that many said I’d never achieve, but I’ve managed to make it happen.
‘It makes me feel seen, accepted and valued for who I am as a person, as a professional
It signifies progress for us as a group, as we move towards upholding the dignity of our community by having the right to live and work.
‘We are here. We always have been here. And we always will be here.
‘I’d like to see more brands embrace diversity and representation.’
In conversation with others, she mentioned that being the first transgender model for Victoria’s Secret is an achievement she will treasure forever.
Today, the Victoria’s Secret group demonstrated that being transgender is no less extraordinary and stunning than any other model gracing their runway.
Building a world that values inclusivity is paramount, and it’s an honor for me to stride forward with dignity, affection, and aspiration, aiming to inspire the generations to come.
Born in the coastal town of Aquiraz, Brazil, Sampaio was reportedly eight years old when a psychologist recognized her identity as transgender, as mentioned by Business Insider.
However, she did not start calling herself Valentina until she was 12.
She shared with The New York Times that she has always identified as female. Her parents, a fisherman and a teacher, have been consistently supportive and extremely proud of her decision.
Sampaio, who was then pursuing her passion for fashion, was unexpectedly spotted by a talented makeup artist and subsequently represented by a modeling firm headquartered in São Paulo.
However, finding suitable employment wasn’t always straightforward for her, as certain clients declined to hire her due to her transgender status.
Back in 2017, I had the heart-pounding moment when I saw her gracing the coveted cover of Vogue Paris, title boldly declaring “Transgender Beauty.” To my exhilaration, she was the first transgender model globally to grace a Vogue cover, as confirmed by her agency, the illustrious Lions Management. It was a groundbreaking moment that left me, and many others I’m sure, feeling an indescribable sense of pride and inspiration.
Since then, Sampaio has collaborated with well-known labels like Moschino, Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), Balmain, L’Oréal, Marc Jacobs Beauty, and Dior Cosmetics.
Apart from that, she has graced the pages of various international editions of fashion magazines like British Vogue, Brazilian Vogue, German Vogue, Taiwanese Vogue, Spanish Harper’s Bazaar, Out Magazine, Italian Vanity Fair, and French Elle.
She was also the first trans model to appear in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue.
As a loyal follower, I must admit that I’ve noticed a shift in the vibe of this event, which once seemed to set the fashion world ablaze with outrageous walks and eye-catching outfits for weeks on end following its appearance on the show. However, it’s hard not to notice the shadow cast by the series of scandals that have hit the company in recent times, particularly allegations about a ‘toxic’ workplace culture.
Victoria’s Secret has experienced a decline in sales as well, with some critics arguing that their efforts toward greater inclusivity in the past few years – such as featuring plus-sized models – have not been successful in attracting customers.
It comes three years after the lingerie brand’s controversial body-positive rebrand in 2021.
Victoria’s Secret, known for its famous Angels models, has shifted to employing ‘ambassadors’ like soccer star Megan Rapinoe. Additionally, the company removed its long-serving CEO due to declining sales and a scandal involving allegations of misogyny, sexual harassment, and bullying that surfaced in an exposé.
1977 marked the establishment of the company, initially conceived as a series of intimate apparel stores for women, by American entrepreneur Roy Raymond.
Fifteen years after, he disposed of the company to apparel tycoon Les Wexner for $1 million – a small portion of its present worth. Later on, Raymond tragically ended his life by leaping from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
He selected the name Victoria, inspired by Queen Victoria, finding it elegant, and appended “Secret” to symbolize the mystery concealed beneath his attire.
Over time, numerous stores sprang up across the country, yet what truly set them apart was the extravagant debut of Victoria’s Secret’s provocative fashion show at the Plaza Hotel in New York City back in 1995.
185 nations were reached through television broadcasts, with millions of viewers tuning in to catch a glimpse of supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, Tyra Banks, and Karen Mulder.
However, in recent times, there’s been a shift as the event came to be seen as an artifact of bygone days during the #MeToo movement.
The situation became even more contentious when the company’s marketing head, Ed Razek, faced backlash for stating that they wouldn’t feature plus-size or transgender models. According to him, the event was designed to present an idealized or fantasized version of beauty.
In 2019, the year he made his controversial statements and stepped down, those remarks caused issues for the brand, ultimately resulting in the cancellation of the show.
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Victoria’s Secret started embracing diversity by featuring plus-size models like Paloma Elsesser and Ali Tate-Cutler in their advertising efforts.
Additionally, they recruited Valentina Sampaio, their inaugural transgender model, for their latest VS Pink advertising campaign following the departure of Razek.
In November 2019, it was announced by the parent company of the well-known lingerie giant that their annual show would be cancelled. This decision was made as part of an effort to change and modernize the company’s message, according to a report by Fortune.
For some time now, sales from females between 18 and 49 years old were decreasing, yet the company remained optimistic that the reintroduction of the program could potentially revive their profits.
Previous performances featured popular artists like Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Harry Styles, and Ariana Grande, but unfortunately, the event had to be called off.
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2024-10-19 01:22