Victoria’s Secret just casted their first ever openly transgender model

Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio took to Instagram to confirm the news sharing a behind-the-scenes image of her posing in the brand’s Pink sub-line alongside the caption: “Never stop dreaming.” Valentina has been busy causing a buzz in the modelling world of late, becoming the first transgender model to be on the cover of Vogue Paris in 2017 and going on to front German Vogue and Brazilian Vogue.

Now she’s flying the flag for inclusivity at the cult lingerie label.

This move is particularly significant for Victoria’s Secret as the brand has come under fire recently for the lack of diversity and inclusivity within their pick of models used.

The hiring comes less than a year after Ed Razek, the brand’s chief marketing officer, made shocking comments ruling out transgender and plus-size models from the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show.

Today, Razek has stepped down from his role. The former marketing boss’ resignation came via a note from Leslie Wexner, the chair and chief executive of the brand’s parent company, L Brands.

In an interview last year, with American Vogue, Razek claimed the lingerie brand’s annual runway shows are “a fantasy” therefore should not include transgender models. But following a backlash, the 70-year-old was forced to apologise via the lingerie brand’s Twitter page.

In the post, he wrote: “My remark regarding the inclusion of transgender models in the Victoria’s Secret Show came across as insensitive. I apologise. To be clear, we absolutely would cast a transgender model for the show. We’ve had transgender models come to castings… And like many others they didn’t make it. It was never about gender,” he continued. “I respect and admire their journey to embrace who they really are.”

News of Sampaio’s role comes less than a week after rumours started circulating that the 2019 Victoria's Secret show might be cancelled. Victoria’s Secret model, Shanina Shaik, dropped the bombshell last week to The Daily Telegraph Australia, claiming that the catwalk show is going on a hiatus.

Link to story: https://bikininewsdaily.com/bnd/VictoriasSecretjustcaste-632