In a long-overdue moment of representation, Sofía Jirau just made history as the first model with Down syndrome to appear in a Victoria’s Secret campaign. The 25-year-old star is the face of the lingerie brand’s new Love Cloud collection alongside 17 other women of diverse backgrounds, including firefighter Celilo Miles, accessory designer Sylvia Buckler, and actor Miriam Blanco. The campaign also features models Valentina Sampaio, Adut Akech, and Paloma Elsesser, all members of VS Collective, a partnership platform launched last year to usher in a more inclusive future for Victoria’s Secret.
While sharing the news of her historic modeling gig on Instagram, Jirau wrote in Spanish that it’s a “dream come true,” adding, “there are no limits.” She also tells POPSUGAR, “I feel happy and proud for me and for all the girls around the world that now can dream without limits.” For her photo shoot, she wore Victoria’s Secret’s new push-up plunge bra in a floral print along with a necklace spelling out her first name.
Another first-time Victoria’s Secret model, set medic and pilates professional Jailyn Matthews, expressed similar sentiments about the campaign. “VS was a dream client of mine in my 20’s and 30’s when I was shooting a ton of lingerie and swim, but I let that dream go well over a decade ago,” Matthews wrote on Instagram. “So to get a call from them in my late 40’s and right after shaving my head was a delightful shock to say the least! . . . Here we are, celebrating ALL women! Can I get an Amen to inclusion and authenticity?!”
While the campaign is certainly cause for celebration, it comes after years of photo shoots and fashion shows lacking in body diversity, predominantly spotlighting white, tall, thin, able-bodied women. The casting of the latest campaign is a step in the right direction, but we’re hoping VS Collective continues to hold the brand accountable for embracing diversity at every turn. Read ahead to see more from the campaign, and head over to Victoria’s Secret’s website to shop the Love Cloud collection of bras and underwear.
