Anahi Martinho
On October 15th, in New York, Brazilian Valentina Sampaio completed a path of no return on the catwalk: she was the first trans model to walk at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
His presence marks a new era for the American lingerie brand, which after a six-year hiatus decided to invest in diversity. In addition to Valentina, women with different bodies and models of different ages paraded with colorful wings, a traditional element at the brand’s events.
Born in a fishing village in Ceará, Valentina faced difficulties at the beginning of her career. From an early age, he faced prejudice and suffered transphobia, even abandoning the profession for a while. In one of her first jobs, still in the capital of Ceará, a client discovered that she was trans and got her fired.
“I was already in the studio, the client discovered that I was trans and thought that my image would harm his brand’s campaign”, he says. “This beginning was so difficult that, for a while, I gave up. I felt inferior, I felt like I was in the wrong place. It took me a while to realize that I was worthy, that I had to fight for my space.”
The decision to continue bore fruit she never imagined. Shortly afterwards, he dropped out of fashion college in Fortaleza and went to live in Rio de Janeiro. There, she debuted as an actress in the film “Berenice Procura”. But it was as a model that his career took off.
At 28 years old — and ten years into her career — she now sees herself consolidated in the field. In addition to the iconic lingerie brand, her main work includes the cover of Vogue Paris, a space in which she was also a pioneer. “I was the first trans person to grace the cover of a Vogue. And on the cover it said: ‘transgender beauty’. When I saw that, a movie played in my head”, he says. “Some time ago, if I talked about all these dreams, they would have disdained me.”
REPRESENTATIVENESS
More than her professional success, Valentina has another glory to celebrate: her great pride is raising the flag for a community that is still, for the most part, marginalized. “I’m no longer afraid to walk down the street, I no longer lose work, because they already know who I am. But on the internet I still suffer prejudice and hate attacks”, he says. “This victory is not just mine, it’s a celebration for the entire trans community. It’s about being able to live and work in a dignified way.”
As a child, she remembers watching the Victoria’s Secret fashion shows on TV. The brand, which has always had a soft spot for Brazilian charm, had Gisele Bündchen as its main “angel”, as well as a team of gorgeous tops: Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Ana Beatriz Barros, Isabeli Fontana, Izabel Goulart and Lais Ribeiro, among others.
“That inspired me, I wanted to be like those women. At the same time, I didn’t feel represented”, she recalls. Today, she herself has become that representation, alongside Alex Consani, another trans model to parade on the occasion. “I’m happy to be part of this advancement, this change. Of course, we still have a way to go. But we have to celebrate each step forward, each achievement.”
Living in New York for five years, she now feels at home in the “big apple”, where she arrived in 2019 without speaking a lick of English. “It’s the city that I love, where my dreams came true, where I had great opportunities. But I also love Brazil. Even with all the problems, for me it’s the best place”, he melts.
When she comes to the country on vacation, Valentina is the pride of the family — who still lives in the same village, which is in Aquiraz, in the metropolitan region of Fortaleza. Her mother, a teacher, and her father, a fisherman, always supported her, she says.
“As a trans woman, I grew up afraid of the future. We find ourselves in a situation with closed doors just because we are who we are. So, I was an adult child, I matured a hundred years in ten”, she says. “My parents trusted me because they saw my responsibility and independence. Today I feel very grateful and blessed for everything I have achieved.”
Source: Folha
I am Frederick Tuttle, who works in 247 News Agency as an author and mostly cover entertainment news. I have worked in this industry for 10 years and have gained a lot of experience. I am a very hard worker and always strive to get the best out of my work. I am also very passionate about my work and always try to keep up with the latest news and trends.
