Trans models Alex Consani & Valentina Sampaio made Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show history

Victoria’s Secret has fully embraced the 21st century. For the first time in its 29-year history, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show featured not just one, but two trans models: Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio.

The fashion show, which has been a staple since 1995 and aired on television since 2001, returned this year after being on hiatus from 2019 to 2023. This year’s show showcased 52 models, including the two trans models.

Consani took to the runway while singer Tyla performed, and Sampaio graced the stage alongside the iconic Kate Moss, according to ‘Out’.

“Little me is screaming I can't even say anything other than thank you," Consani shared in an Instagram post celebrating the occasion. “This moment is one I will cherish for a lifetime,” Sampaio penned in her own post, adding, “The Victoria’s Secret family has shown the world that being trans is just as exceptional and beautiful as anyone else on that runway. Inclusivity is crucial to the world we’re building, and I’m honored to walk with pride, love, and the hope of inspiring the next generation. Thank you, Victoria’s Secret, for making a long-held dream come true.”

Sampaio previously made history as the first trans model to work with Victoria's Secret in 2019 when she participated in a photoshoot for VS Pink.

Consani was also featured in the documentary The Victoria’s Secret World Tour, which was released last year on Amazon Prime Video.

In 2018, Ed Razek, the then chief marketing officer for Victoria's Secret, expressed his belief that the brand should not include trans models in its fashion show. “If you're asking if we've considered putting a transgender model in the show or looked at putting a plus-size model in the show, we have,” Razek stated. “Shouldn't we have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don't think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. It's a 42-minute entertainment special. That's what it is.”

Razek departed from the company in 2019, which was also the year the brand announced the cancellation of its annual fashion show.

In 2023, The Victoria’s Secret World Tour special aired on Amazon Prime Video, paving the way for the show’s return this year. The World Tour featured trans artist Edun Sodipo, musician Honey Dijon, and models Ceval Omar and Consani.