Valentina Sampaio Became the First Transgender Model of Victoria's Secret

Valentina Sampaio appeared on the cover of Elle magazine at age 19 in October 2016. On social media, many people commented that it was almost impossible to tell she was transgender — a testament to how naturally she fit into high fashion.

One year later in 2017, she became the first transgender model on the cover of Vogue Paris. The historic photos were shot by photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

In those same years, Victoria's Secret sales were on a downward trend. In the winter of 2018, the situation became very clear when the fashion show received shockingly low ratings for its live broadcast. Many argued that a key factor in the brand's decline was its roster of models fitting a single body type, at a time when body diversity and the LGBTQ+ movement were gaining mainstream momentum.

She auditioned for the Victoria's Secret 2018 Fashion Show but did not make it to the final show. When reporters asked Victoria's Secret creative director Ed Razek about casting transgender models, his response sparked immediate controversy online. The brand's own models publicly criticized the director's comments.

In 2019, Victoria's Secret issued an apology for the incident, and Valentina Sampaio made a social media announcement that she had begun working with the brand — making history as its first openly transgender model.

FAQ

When did Valentina Sampaio join Victoria's Secret?

Valentina Sampaio announced her collaboration with Victoria's Secret in 2019, becoming the brand's first openly transgender model, following the brand's public apology for earlier exclusionary comments.

Was Valentina Sampaio the first transgender model on Vogue?

Yes. In 2017, Valentina Sampaio appeared on the cover of Vogue Paris, making her the first openly transgender model to grace the cover of any Vogue edition worldwide.

How did the fashion industry respond to Valentina Sampaio's Victoria's Secret contract?

The response was overwhelmingly positive. Fashion industry insiders, fellow models, and LGBTQ+ advocates celebrated the move as a long-overdue step toward inclusion in one of the world's most watched lingerie brands.