Valentina Sampaio is a Brazilian actress and supermodel. She is the first transgender Victoria’s Secret Angel. Valentina is also the first openly transgender model to be featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

The model grew up in Aquiraz, Ceara in North Eastern Brazil. The fishing village Valentina Sampaio belongs to has had a huge influence on her. Both her parents worked hard. Her father was a fisherman and mother was a school teacher.

When Valentina Sampaio turned eight, her psychologist told her parents that Valentina is transgender. However, it was not until Valentina reached the age of 12 that she decided to consider herself a woman. 

In most of her interviews, Valentina Sampaio has revealed that she did not get bullied due to her gender identification. Her parents were supportive of her and did not pressure her to behave a certain way. Even her classmates were accepting of her identity.

Valentina Sampaio initially took architecture at Fortaleza but later decided to pursue fashion. It was at university where a makeup artist took notice of her and got her signed with a modelling agency in Sao Paulo. However, Valentina Sampaio was fired from her first modelling job due to her transgender identity in 2014.
Despite the hurdles that Valentina dealt with initially in her career, she managed to make a name for herself. She even acted in an independent film and walked at Sao Paulo Fashion Week in 2016. It was right after her first runway that L’Oreal signed her up for a short film for International Women’s Day. Then, Valentina Sampaio became the brand ambassador for the company.

Valentina Sampaio also appeared on the cover of Vogue Paris in 2017. She is the first transgender to be featured on the cover of the magazine. Valentina later appeared on the covers of Vogue Germany and Vogue Brasil.

Other notable magazine cover appearances of the Brazilian model include L’Officiel Turkiye, Elle Mexico, and Vanity Fair Italia. Valentina Sampaio has also worked with some of the biggest brands including Philipp Plein, L’Oreal, Moschino, Marc Jacobs, H&M, and Dior.
It was only in August, 2019 when Valentina Sampaio highlighted her association with Victoria’s Secret on her Instagram account. The Brazilian model is an advocate for transgender awareness and equality. She has fought for the rights of transgender people in her home country.
Valentina Sampaio believes that she needs to use her voice to bring about a change in not just the fashion industry but beyond. She always had a dream of becoming a model someday and her dream has come true.

The model has also been featured in major advertising campaigns for brands like Dior Beauty, Marc Jacobs Beauty, L’Oreal, Balmain, H&M, and Moschino. Valentina Sampaio took part in the Teen Vogue summit. She delivered an inspiring and beautiful speech which aimed at drawing attention to equality and acceptance for the transgender community.

Valentina Sampaio lives in New York and Brazil. She travels often and can be found trying out all types of new things.