Sofía Jirau Is Victoria Secret’s First Model With Down Syndrome — See Photos

Puerto Rican model Sofía Jirau is making history after being named a Victoria’s Secret Model. Jirau is the lingerie brand’s first model with Down syndrome. The model took to Instagram on February 14 (you can check out her post here) to break the news to her 221,000+ Instagram followers with a photo of herself wearing a bra from Love Cloud, the brand’s latest collection of bras and underwear.  

In a press release issued on February 14, Victoria’s Secret stated that the new advertising campaign for the Love Cloud collection is a “first of its kind campaign for the brand, reinforcing Victoria’s Secret’s commitment to welcoming and celebrating all women.” Jirau is one of 18 models that is a part of the Love Cloud campaign. 

Jirau is making history alongside other models with Down syndrome, including Grace Strobel, who was declared to be the first model with Down syndrome to serve as the face of an American skin-care brand. Strobel was named an Obagi Skinclusion Ambassador in October of 2020. British model Ellie Goldstein, another model with Down syndrome, has been making strides in the modeling industry after starring in a Gucci Beauty partnership for Vogue Italia in June of 2020. Her photo for the partnership soon went viral. 

Slowly but surely, we’re so happy to see that Victoria’s Secret has added a model with Down Syndrome to their new campaign. It’s high time that people with disabilities get the representation in media that they deserve. Here’s to hoping that more brands will follow the leads of brands that already have made a place for people with disabilities at the table. 

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