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24-Year-Old Model Accomplishes Her Dream Of Becoming Victoria’s Secret’s First Model With Down Syndrome
I think we all agree that fashion designers have always chosen gorgeous, traditionally attractive, and able-bodied models to showcase their clothing on the catwalk and other less traditional fashion events. These models have set high standards to be more graceful than the average person, and have actively played a role in establishing a discrepancy between what models and actual real everyday people look like.
However, as society, we progress further and further each year, and it wasn’t a surprise when recently a lot of big brands and modeling agencies started introducing a lot of differently abled people as part of their brand, giving more realistic representation on runways and magazine covers.
Today we’d like to share with you the story of 24-year-old Puerto Rican model Sofía Jirau, who has Down syndrome.
We have also shared Sofía’s first story featuring her debut at New York Fashion Week way back in 2020, and if you’d like to find out more about it, you can find it by clicking here.
More info: Instagram | sofiajirau.com | Facebook
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Meet Sofía Jirau, a 24-year-old Puerto Rican model with Down syndrome
Image credits: sofiajirau
Image credits: sofiajirau
Sofía recently went viral on social media after a certain post she made
Image credits: sofiajirau
Image credits: sofiajirau
Image credits: sofiajirau
She happily announced her newest accomplishment of becoming Victoria’s Secret’s first model with Down syndrome
Image credits: sofiajirau
Image credits: sofiajirau
Image credits: sofiajirau
The brand reached out to her via a call as they offered her an opportunity to work with them
Image credits: sofiajirau
Image credits: sofiajirau
Image credits: sofiajirau
Image credits: sofiajirau
Jirau was very happy with the news and agreed instantly
Image credits: sofiajirau
Image credits: sofiajirau
In a recent interview she said, “I want to tell the whole world that people with my condition, Down syndrome, inside and out, we have no limits”
Image credits: sofiajirau
Image credits: sofiajirau
View this post on Instagram
Image credits: sofiajirau
The new role became her biggest accomplishment after her debut at New York Fashion Week back in 2020
Image credits: sofiajirau
Image credits: sofiajirau
View this post on Instagram
Image credits: sofiajirau
After getting the job, Sofía flew all the way to Los Angeles for her campaign photoshoot for the “Love Cloud” bra collection
Image credits: sofiajirau
View this post on Instagram
Image credits: sofiajirau
With all of that being said, the model hopes her story can inspire more people to push through life and make their dreams come true
Image credits: sofiajirau
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What do you think ?
Not Proud British 2 years ago
That's really good however I wonder if they would have done the same if the woman in question had a more severe form of Downs? At first glance, you would not know she had Downs at all. They chose someone who has a beautiful body, long glossy hair and whose features only have a hint of Downs syndrome and then they congratulate themselves on being open minded. It's great for her and she deserves the adulation, but they do not I'm afraid. It's a token gesture from them, like having a beautiful woman in a wheelchair. Most people with Downs don't look like her.
rumade 2 years ago
That was my thought exactly. She doesn't look like a typical person with Downs syndrome and isn't very representative of them. But then again, other models aren't very representative of the general population either, even the "plus size" ones
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Jo Choto 2 years ago
I'm so glad that this determined and beautiful young woman has been able to live her dream by becoming a VS model. Me, I would prefer that we stop idealizing and sexualizing women altogether. But it seems that this is a really big landmark for the disabled community who struggle with being desexualized and infantilized a lot. A lot of them are really really happy to have a disabled person being seen as an example of sexual beauty.
Stephanie IV 2 years ago
Yay for her! I just wish her dream wasn’t something I consider objectifying women. She’s pretty and enjoying her own beauty - good for her.
Load More Replies...
Not Proud British 2 years ago
That's really good however I wonder if they would have done the same if the woman in question had a more severe form of Downs? At first glance, you would not know she had Downs at all. They chose someone who has a beautiful body, long glossy hair and whose features only have a hint of Downs syndrome and then they congratulate themselves on being open minded. It's great for her and she deserves the adulation, but they do not I'm afraid. It's a token gesture from them, like having a beautiful woman in a wheelchair. Most people with Downs don't look like her.
rumade 2 years ago
That was my thought exactly. She doesn't look like a typical person with Downs syndrome and isn't very representative of them. But then again, other models aren't very representative of the general population either, even the "plus size" ones
Load More Replies... Jo Choto 2 years ago
I'm so glad that this determined and beautiful young woman has been able to live her dream by becoming a VS model. Me, I would prefer that we stop idealizing and sexualizing women altogether. But it seems that this is a really big landmark for the disabled community who struggle with being desexualized and infantilized a lot. A lot of them are really really happy to have a disabled person being seen as an example of sexual beauty.
Stephanie IV 2 years ago
Yay for her! I just wish her dream wasn’t something I consider objectifying women. She’s pretty and enjoying her own beauty - good for her.
Load More Replies... 
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