Sofía Jirau has made history as the first model for Victoria’s Secret with Down syndrome. Jirau, who is also Latina, is part of the Love Cloud collection, which features women described by the company as being from a “myriad of backgrounds.”
She joins 17 other women in the company’s newest campaign, including Celilo Miles, a wildland firefighter for the Nez Perce Tribe; Jailyn Matthews, a fitness trainer; and Hailey Bieber.
“One day I dreamed of it, I worked on it and today it is a dream come true. I can finally tell you my big secret,” the Puerto Rican model posted on her Instagram page in Spanish. “I am the first Victoria’s Secret model with Down syndrome!”
The Love Cloud collection commits to “sophisticated comfort,” the company said.
“Love Cloud Collection is a major moment in the brand’s evolution,” said Raúl Martinez, Victoria’s Secret’s head creative director. “From the cast of incredible women that bring the collection to life, to the incredible inclusive spirit on set, this campaign is an important part of the new Victoria’s Secret standard we are creating.”
Jirau made her debut at New York Fashion Week in February 2020. The model also became an entrepreneur in 2019 by launching an online store, named “Alavett,” based on her favorite phrase, “I love it.”
Currently, she works as an experience ambassador in the Puerto Rican company INprende, which has been a supporter to fulfill her dreams, according to her website.
The news comes less than one year after Victoria’s Secret’s decision to part with their world-famous “Angels” supermodels in an effort to highlight women known for their accomplishments rather than their figures.
The company hopes to become a global “advocate” for female empowerment, their chief executive Martin Waters told the New York Times last year.
