Valentina Sampaio is a Brazilian model and actress who came to the spotlight after becoming the first transgender woman to appear in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue in 2020.
Valentina is also known for being Victoria’s Secret’s 1st openly transgender model in the summer of 2019. From then on, she started getting offers from renowned brands and companies to sign contracts with them.
Valentina Sampaio Biography
| Nickname | Valentina |
| Gender | Female |
| Age | 29 years old |
| Date of Birth | December 10, 1996 |
| Full Name | Valentina Sampaio |
| Profession | Model, Actress |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Birthplace | Aquiraz, State of Ceará, Brazil |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
Early Life
Valentina Sampaio was (born on December 10, 1996), and was raised in the gorgeous coastal city of Aquiraz, Brazil. Her father is a fisherman, while her mother is a teacher. Valentia says she was fortunate to have friends and family who supported her in her career.
She was only 8 years old when a psychologist identified her as transgender, and 4 years later, she began calling herself Valentina. From there, she began to dream big and envision herself as a model.
In an attempt to bring her dreams to life, Valentina posed in front of any camera she could get in front of from a very young age. She spent many nights impersonating some of Brazil’s biggest soap opera stars.
Once Valentina was old enough to commute to the largest nearby city, Fortaleza, she began studying fashion to become a stylist. Soon after, she became involved in the local fashion industry and discovered a community.
Career
When Valentina began her modelling career in Brazil, she was hired for an ad campaign for a clothing company in 2014. But when the brand realized she was transgender, she was fired out of fear that the company’s conservative clients would be fired.
Despite the discouraging setback, Valentina pressed forward. In the following months, she left her home for the first time to act in an independent film titled “Rio de Janeiro,” which debuted at São Paulo Fashion Week.
Soon enough, Valentina decided to move to São Paulo full-time. Later, she received her breakthrough moment when she was asked to model for the cover of French Vogue. Valentina became the first transgender woman to ever appear in that magazine.
Following her success, Valentina wrapped up a whole bunch more because her increased decent profile led to further cover shoots. She modeled for Vogue Brazil and Vogue Germany.
In 2019, Valentina became the first transgender model to work with the famous Victoria’s Secret. Now that she had officially found her way into North American pop culture relevancy, Valentina’s career hit a great level.
She caught the attention of New York City talent agency The Lions, with whom she signed. In 2020, then 23-year-old supermodel Valentina continued to break down barriers in the modeling world.
She became the first transgender woman profiled in the legendary Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. That year, the Brazilian model was named one of the “Editions Rookies.”
Then, Valentina was invited to become one of the inaugural members of the Victoria’s Secret VS Collective, which replaced the brand’s well-known cast of Angles ever since Valentina became a celebrity in North America and has been made evident by her much-talked-about appearance at the Met Gala in 2021.
In 2022, Valentina was selected to become the first transgender of Armani Beauty products. Additionally, she signed endorsement deals with H&M, Philipp Plein, Dior, Pollini, Bio Rhythm Fitness Academy, L’Oréal, Marc Jacobs, Moschino, and Skunk.
Career Highlights
- Being covered in the French Vogue
- Becoming the first transgender model to appear on Victoria’s Secret
- Modeling for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
Net Worth
Valentina Sampaio is a Brazilian model and actress known for being the first transgender woman to appear in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue in 2020. Her net worth is estimated to be $2 million. Sampaio rose to fame after moving to the USA for better opportunities and signing with significant modelling agencies. Her career took off, and she earned substantial money through her work.