Trans model to feature on French Vogue for the first time
French Vogue is to feature a trans model on its cover for the first time.
Valentina Sampaio is from Brazil and has more than 32,000 followers on Instagram.
Joining the likes of Gigi Hadid, Kate Moss and Kendall Jenner, the magazine’s editor, Emmanuelle Alt, said Valentina had “beauty striking enough to stun on the cover of Vogue”.
In her editorial, Ms Alt added that the Brazilian is the “absolute equal” of any other iconic women in fashion.
“Apart from one small detail, Valentina, the femme fatale, was born a boy,” she said.
“It’s a detail one would prefer not to have to mention…but Valentina is on the cover of Vogue this month, not just for her looks or her sparkling personality, but because despite herself she embodies an age-old arduous struggle to be recognised and not to be perceived as something Other.”
The French fashion magazine, that has been in print since the 1920s, is not the first to feature a trans model on its cover.
The UK edition of Elle recently featured Hari Nef, the trans model and actor who featured in the hit show, Transparent.
Valentina has also featured on the front cover of Elle in Brazil.
Ms Alt added that the magazine was proud to be part raising awareness of trans issues.
“Trans people, the ultimate symbol of a rejection of conformity, are icons that Vogue supports and chooses to celebrate,’ she said.
“But only when a transgendered person poses on the front cover of a fashion magazine and it is no longer necessary to write an editorial on the subject will we know that the battle is won.”
