Valentina Sampaio is First Transgender Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model

This one is for the Culture!

According to reports, Brazilian-born Valentina Sampaio is the first transgender person to be featured in a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Previously, Sampaio noted she was a named a 2020 rookie in the issue, which is set to drop on July 21.

Sampaio took to social media to address the news, saying, “I am excited and honored to be part of the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The team at SI has created yet another groundbreaking issue by bringing together a diverse set of multitalented, beautiful women in a creative and dignified way. I was born trans in a remote, humble fishing village in northern Brazil. Brazil is a beautiful country, but it also hosts the highest number of violent crimes and murders against the trans community in the world — three times that of the U.S.”

Sampaio concluded by saying, “Being trans usually means facing closed doors to peoples’ hearts and minds. We face snickers, insults, fearful reactions and physical violations just for existing. Our options for growing up in a loving and accepting family, having a fruitful experience at school or finding dignified work are unimaginably limited and challenging.”

source: Vogue