Transgender Victoria’s Secret model Valentina Sampaio fires back at critics after debut at iconic Fashion Show
told TMZ. ‘It makes me feel seen, accepted and valued for who I am as a person, as a professional. “It’s collectively a step forward in celebrating the rights of my community, to live and work with dignity.”“We are here.
We always have been here. And we always will be here.”In 2019, Victoria’s Secret hired Sampaio as its first “Angel,” a moniker the company removed in 2021 in an attempt to redefine its image.
It was the same year Victoria’s Secret canceled the annual fashion show over outrage and a series of controversies.Hours before the show in 2018, former chief marketing officer Ed Razek told Vogue that transgender and plus-sized models wouldn’t be cast because the event is supposed to be a “fantasy.” He eventually apologized for his “insensitive” comment about transgender models and retired nearly a year later.In 2021, the brand emerged from the pandemic with a “reset” and started featuring curvier models and slimmed-down shelves.
Tuesday’s catwalk featured Ashley Graham, Paloma Elsesser, Kai Soleil, Devyn Garcia and Jill Kortleve whose sizes range from 8 – 16.Legendary supermodels Tyra Banks, Gigi Hadid and Alessandra Ambrosio also walked in the show on Tuesday.
