- Valentina Sampaio has become
Sports Illustrated 's firsttransgender model . - The 23-year-old is featured in the publication's annual swimsuit issue, which will become available at newsstands and online starting July 21.
- On Instagram, Sampaio shared some background about her life as a transgender woman in Brazil, and said she feels "excited and honored" to be featured in the magazine.
- In a video posted on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Instagram page, Sampaio also said she hopes that one day being transgender is "not important" and "not new."
Sports Illustrated has hired its first transgender model.
On Friday, the magazine announced that 23-year-old Valentina Sampaio is featured in its annual swimsuit issue, which will be released on July 21. The publication made the announcement on Instagram, where it shared a photo of Sampaio taken by Josie Clough, and a statement from the model in its caption. Sampaio also shared the same message on her Instagram page.
"I am excited and honored to be part of the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue," Sampaio wrote. "The team at SI has created yet another groundbreaking issue by bringing together a diverse set of multi-talented, beautiful women in a creative and dignified way."
23-year-old model Valentina Sampaio was born in Brazil, where being transgender is not widely accepted
The model shared some of her background at the end of her Instagram post.
"I was born trans in a remote, humble fishing village in northern Brazil," the model wrote. "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 US."
According to the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy nonprofit, at least 26 transgender people were killed in the US in 2019. In Brazil, at least 124 transgender people were killed that same year, according to Brazilian newspaper Brasil de Fato.
"Being trans usually means facing closed doors to peoples' hearts and minds," she continued. "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."
In a video for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Instagram page, the model said she knows she is 'one of the fortunate ones'
In a video for Sports Illustrated, Sampaio said transgender people "don't have the same opportunities" that cisgender people do in Brazil. "The door is closed for you, just because you are trans," she said.
Though she said in the video that she "had to learn to fight" for herself, she added that she is "one of the fortunate ones."
"I recognize that I am one of the fortunate ones, and my intention is to warrant that as best I can," she said. "I am excited and honored to be part of the iconic Swimsuit Issue. They see the person and the woman who I am."
She continued to say that she hopes being transgender is one day "not important" and "not new."
"I feel strong, and I feel inspired to fight, not just for me but for everyone that I represent," Sampaio told Sports Illustrated.
Sports Illustrated included a disclaimer underneath all photos of Sampaio on its swimsuit-themed Instagram page.
"Our Instagram channel is a platform for inspiration, inclusivity and support," Sports Illustrated wrote under the photos. "SI Swimsuit will not tolerate any hateful or offensive comments. Those who violate these terms will be deleted, blocked & reported."
Sports Illustrated has made history with many of its past swimsuit issues
In 2016, for example, Ashley Graham became the first size-16 model to star on the magazine's cover. Three years later, Halima Arden became the first model to wear a burkini and hijab in the publication. Tyra Banks — who was the first Black cover model for the swimsuit issue in 1996 — also came out of retirement and wore a yellow bikini on the cover of the swimsuit issue that same year.
In a statement sent to Insider, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editor-in-chief MJ Day said it only made sense that Sampaio would be featured in the magazine.
"Our goal in selecting who we feature in the SI Swimsuit Issue is centered around identifying some of the most inspiring, interesting, and multi-dimensional women that we can find," Day said. "Valentina has been on our radar for some time now and when we finally met face to face, it became apparent that besides her obvious beauty, she is an impassioned activist, a true pioneer for the LGBT+ community, and just simply embodies the well-rounded woman we are proud to have represent SI Swimsuit across our platforms."
She added: "We are deeply moved that Valentina was willing to put her trust in us and we didn't think twice about wanting to amplify her voice, her message, and give her a platform to advocate from on behalf of her personal aspirations and the trans community. That is what we can do as a brand, especially during these uncertain times — support her and celebrate her."
Representatives for Valentina Sampaio did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.
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