Valentina Sampaio is Sports Illustrated’s First Transgender Model

Brazilian model and actress Valentina Sampaio, is making history this year by being the first transgender woman to be featured in the Sports Illustrated (SI) Swimsuit Issue. Over the weekend, Sampaio announced her title as a 2020 rookie of the magazine’s upcoming issue in an Instagram post. This is a groundbreaking achievement for Sampaio, but this is not her first time to initiate breakthroughs in the modeling industry for the trans people.

In 2017 Sampaio was just 20 years old and became the first trans woman to appear on the cover of Vogue Paris. Just two years later, in 2019, further strides were made when she became the first openly trans model to be hired by Victoria’s Secret. The lingerie company’s decision to hire Sampaio garnered visibility for transgender models on a broad scale. Ed Razek, former marketing executive at Victoria’s Secret, stepped down from his position amid Sampaio’s hiring due to public remarks that he wouldn’t hire “transsexuals” to walk in the brand’s annual fashion show.

“Being trans usually means facing closed doors to peoples’ hearts and minds. We face snickers, insults, fearful reactions, and physical violations just for existing. Our options for growing up in a loving and accepting family, having a fruitful experience at school, or finding dignified work are unimaginably limited and challenging,” said Sampaio.

Sampaio was born in a small, remote fishing village in northern Brazil. She has grown up battling discrimination of trans people in her country and around the world. Studies show that Brazil tops off as the deadliest country in the world for trans individuals. In fact, cases of violent crimes and murders against trans people are three times higher in Brazil than in the United States. 

Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue launched 56 years ago and has since become a very respected magazine within the fashion industry. Sampaio will join seven other empowered women in the “rookie” section of the issue, as well as have a chance to become 2020 Rookie of the Year. Sports Illustrated has not publicly announced or mentioned the fact that Sampaio is trans. However, her inclusion in the issue comes after the recent Supreme Court ruling that trans Americans are legally protected from discrimination on the basis of their gender identity.

In a statement, Sampaio remarked, “Thank you, SI, for seeing and respecting me as I truly am. For understanding that more than anything, I am human. Thank you for supporting me in continuing to spread a message of love, compassion and unity for ALL.”