Lingerie brand Victoria's Secret has cast a transgender model in a catalogue photo shoot for the first time.
It was confirmed this week that Brazilian transgender model Valentina Sampaio has been hired to model for CS Pink, the company's activewear line.
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Sampaio posted a behind-the-scenes video on Instagram this week with the caption "never stop dreaming".
Another post was captioned "backstage click", with Sampaio tagging in the Victoria's Secret account.
Sampaio's agent told CNN the shoot would go live later this month, calling it a "great opportunity to break barriers" in the fashion business, "and to contribute to a bigger representation for everybody".
Public reaction has generally been celebratory, with fellow Brazilian VS model Lais Ribeiro tweeting, "First transgender to shoot with VS! This makes me so happy!"
Orange is the New Black actress and transgender activist Laverne Cox commented, "Wow, finally!" on Instagram.
The move comes only a year after Ed Razek, the chief marketing officer for Victoria's Secret's parent company, told Vogue he didn't think the brand should include "transsexuals" in its show, using what is now considered an offensive term.
"Why not? Because the show is a fantasy," Razek said. "It's a 42-minute entertainment special. That's what it is."
Razek later apologised for his comments in a statement published on the Victoria's Secret Twitter account, writing: "My remark regarding the inclusion of transgender models in the Victoria's Secret Fashion show came across as insensitive."
"To be clear, we would absolutely cast a transgender model for the show."
The popular Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has seen a decline in recent years; its 2018 installment was the lowest-rated ever, and the 2019 show has reportedly been cancelled.
Newshub.
