GLAMOR Women of the Year Award 2024 in partnership with Dyson: Valentina Sampaio receives “Model of the Year” award
Valentina Sampaio is above all a series of “firsts”: she was the firstModel on the cover of French VOGUE in 2017. She then became the first trans* model in a Victoria's Secret campaign, before becoming one of the first trans* women to appear in the mid-Octoberran in 2024. She is a fantastic model, but she is also more than that: a role model that she never had herself.
The 27-year-old didn't have an easy journey. She grew up without any role models, in a small village in the north of Brazil, where trans* children are actually separated from their families, she says. She was discovered as a model - and yet she always had problems when clients found out that she was trans*. She had more support then, but there were still no great role models. So she became a role model herself.
For her courage, her assertiveness, her role as a pioneer for more diversity and inclusion as well as her experience as a model, she will be honored by GLAMOR as “Model of the Year” at this year’s awards. In this interview she talks to us about her role model role, her biggest challenges and the future of the fashion industry.
Transsexual is an outdated term and is being replaced by transgender or simply trans* - the asterisk leaves room for different identities and endings (e.g. transidentity, transsexuality, transgender...). You can find out more in our article on.
Valentina Sampaio in an interview about her role model role and activism
In 2024, Valentina Sampaio is at a completely different point in her life: She feels safe and at ease in the modeling industry and works with great colleagues and renowned brands. She stands in front of the camera for campaigns and walks on catwalks around the world. But she knows that other trans* people don't have it as well as she does. Transphobia is on the rise these days. Which is why Valentina is also an activist for the rights of trans* people.
GLAMOR: We are pleased that we can celebrate the Women of the Year Award 2024 with you in Berlin. Of course, we are even more pleased that we can award you “Model of the Year”. If you could choose a Woman of the Year, who would be your Woman of the Year or Decade?
Valentina Sampaio: My Woman of the Year and Woman of the Decade is also the woman of my life. It should be my mother. My mom. She is the person who inspires me and gives me strength.
What makes you feel empowered in your life?
What empowers me is knowing who I am and not being afraid to be who I am. Especially when I live in a world that tells me that I am wrong or even immoral for living my true self. Helping others and inspiring them to be themselves also empowers me.
Was there a moment that empowered you, or was it more of a slow process?
It wasn't a specific moment - I always knew about myself and my identity. Since childhood, I have identified myself as a human being, as a person - and I have always known who I am. I have always identified myself as Valentina. If there were moments of doubt, they came from the outside world. People then said I was wrong. That even the way I walk, the way I talk, and the way I live is wrong. But I never felt different or wrong myself.
What would you tell yourself if you could look your teenage self in the eyes? What would you say to this little girl, this little Valentina?
This is a question that makes you think about many things. I could tell her what she could change. But in the end, I wouldn't change a thing. But I would tell her: I'm proud. I'm really proud of little Valentina. On their strength. You did it, girl!
And there is so much to be proud of. You were the first in many ways. You were the first trans* woman on the cover of Vogue Paris, the first trans* in Sports Illustrated and were welcomed into Victoria's Secret. How does it feel to be the first to do something?
I am so incredibly proud of myself and so happy. Every person needs to be celebrated. I think this is a step forward in terms of inclusivity and celebrating diversity.
I'm proud to be doing something important, not just for myself, but for every person who, like me, has experienced discrimination.
What was your journey from the small village in Brazil to the cover of Voue?
The path was not easy. I come from northern Brazil, from a small fishing village. And then suddenly I worked for Victoria's Secret. This was something that felt impossible for the little girl. But I have always been a person who knew: the sky is not the limit. I think that's something really important: to dream and dream big.
What was the motivation that gave you strength when you faced so many hurdles along the way?
My happiness and existence depend on me believing in myself, fighting and standing up for myself. What gave me the strength to carry on and move forward was the moment when I realized: If I am strong, if I stand up for myself, I will also help others.
Just by existing, you give hope to many young trans* people. Do you enjoy your role as a role model and activist or was this something you thought you would do?must?
I try not to feel pressure to do my best and live my whole self authentically. And I feel so blessed to be able to live as a role model and give hope to so many people who, like me, have faced prejudice and discrimination just because of who we are.
What was your biggest challenge? And how did you overcome them?
If you're trans today, I think the biggest challenge in this world is being yourself and being who you really are. Because being trans* can mean that the hearts and minds of many people remain closed to you. Walking down the street is a challenge, going to school is one, and the biggest challenge of all is living with it every day.
And it should be something very simple because we are all human. We all deserve a dignified life, the opportunity to work, have a home, have a family and be in love. Nothing else matters.
How do you practice self-love and self-care?
I learned to be kind and patient with myself, respect myself and show myself love. I now look for the positive things and not the negative. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves these days – but we really need to practice being kind and positive to ourselves.
We need to understand that we are all unique and special in our own way and respect that.
Has anything changed for you and your identity after you came into the spotlight?
I'm becoming more and more mature now. But in the end it's what's on the inside that counts. I'm still the little girl from the fishing village. And if anything has changed, it's probably that I now feel more confident and have more strength.
Speaking of your job as a model: What do beauty and fashion mean to you as a model, but especially as a trans* model, where they can be a means to make you feel more like yourself and, in some cases, more confident?
For me, fashion is an expression of ourselves, our identity.
And for me, beauty is something that transcends our bodies. This is something that comes from our soul and our being. I think beauty is the transmission of our essence.
Did you grow up with trans* role models or who was there for you when you found your identity?
Growing up, I had no role model, especially a trans woman, to look up to and be inspired by. No one to give me security. There was no one who made me feel like I could be trans and have a good job or have a good life that I could be proud of.
Even today, especially in my hometown in Brazil, the trans* community is still very marginalized. We have no job opportunities. And if you're trans*, you're usually separated from your family as a child, which means you have little chance of getting a good education. And that means even less chance of finding a job you can be proud of.
So growing up, I felt insecure and scared because I didn't have anyone to look up to that made me feel safe.
But there was a woman. She wasn't really in my time, more in my father's time. She was a Brazilian trans* woman, model and actress. Roberta Close was big in the 1970s and 1980s. And even though she was no longer actively working in 2010, she was still someone I could check out every now and then when I went online. Your videos were really inspiring to me and made me keep dreaming and believing in myself.
Do you think it's important for trans kids who are just finding themselves to see other trans people as representation in the media?
I think it's really important for us to have someone we can look at and feel represented by. Like I said, I remember growing up without having anyone to look up to. I didn't even have anyone I could have a deeper, more emotional conversation with.
I think it's really crucial for every child, but especially for trans* children, to have a role model - but also someone who is close to you and with whom you can have deep conversations. Someone to share your thoughts or feelings with.
Looking at the fashion world, what do you think needs to change to welcome more trans models into the world and practice diversity and representation?
I see a big difference compared to when I started years ago. Now I can see that the fashion world is taking some steps forward when it comes to diversity and inclusivity. But I also think that we are not at the end yet. The industry still has a lot to do.
So in summary, we are making progress, but I would like to see more brands - and society as a whole - truly and fairly accept the trans* community and just see us as people.
We touched on this briefly, but hatred and violence against the LGBTQIA+ community is happening more and more frequently, especially here in Germany. But also in the USA and Brazil. Does this affect you in your daily life?
At the moment I have a career and my work. So I'm in a safer place and better protected. When I have a shoot, the people there know me. They know who I am and want me because I am who I am. So I'm better protected now than when I started my modeling career.
I got fired a lot back then. Even when my hair and makeup was already done and I was ready to be photographed in the studio. I still got fired when the customer realized I was trans.
But even with all of that, today, with all of this violence that's happening, I still feel like I'm not entirely safe. I still feel scared when I walk the streets. And I'm especially scared on the internet because people think the internet is this free world where they can now attack anyone. There is hatred for people like me in so many places - especially on the internet. So yes, I still feel scared sometimes.
And perhaps as a final piece of advice or motivation: What would you say to young trans people who look up to you?
I would say: look at me. Be the first now. Be the first to love and accept yourself and believe in yourself. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're wrong or less than everyone else. Because you have every right to be who you are. Because you are unique and special.
Head of Editorial Content: Theresa Pichler
European Visual Director: Amelia Trevette
European Design Director: Helen Williamson
European Fashion Editor: Londiwe Ncube
Photographer: Agata Serge
Stylist: Julianna Alabado at Bridge Artists
Hair by Shinya Nakagawa at BRIDGE using R+Co
Makeup by Rei Tajima at BRIDGE using La Mer
Manicurist: Yukie Miyakawa and See Management
Lighting assistant: Nick Grennon
Styling assistant: Jacqueline Moore
Production by Area 1202
Producer Jean Jarvis
Production coordinator Nika Bregvadze
