This model makes history as the first person with Down Syndrome to pose for Victoria’s Secret
In February 2020, Sofia Jirau of Puerto Rico made her debut in the fashion world. The model with Down’s Syndrome made her runway debut at New York Fashion Week and quickly climbed to fame.
The 25-year-old recently revealed that she is a part of Victoria’s Secret’s new Love Cloud collection promotion. She has also created her own label, Alavett.
Her catwalk debut received a resoundingly enthusiastic response, but when it comes to comfortable underwear, people admit to having “mixed feelings.”
Sofia, who was overjoyed by the news, shared it with her Instagram followers “I dreamed of it one day, worked towards it, and now it is a reality. Finally, I’m ready to reveal my major secret… I am the first Down syndrome model for Victoria’s Secret.”
“Thank you to everyone who has always backed me up in my endeavors. @victoriassecret recognized me as a #NoLimits model and included me in the Love Cloud Collection inclusiveness campaign. This is only the beginning; it is now taking shape.”
“There are no boundaries inside or out, Alavett.”
She also has her own No Limits campaign, branded “Sin Limites,” which she started. Her goal is to increase awareness and erase the stigmas that surround people with Down syndrome.
Sofia is also a member of her own brand’s design and creative team!
Sofia previously expressed her thoughts after her first catwalk debut in 2020, saying, “I am thrilled to be one of the few models with Down’s syndrome who have managed to participate in such a prestigious fashion event.”
“Modeling in the United States was the first step toward realizing a dream I’d had since I was a child: to walk the world’s most prestigious runways.”
Sofia expresses her admiration for J Lo and hopes to meet her one day. Her other aim was to inspire other people with Down’s Syndrome to achieve their goals in the same way she did.
Victoria’s Secret has been focusing on becoming more inclusive as part of a recent brand image change in order to dispel the poisonous body image messages that have been criticized. Along with professional A-listers like Hayley Bieber and Taylor Hill, Sofia Jirau, and a handful of accomplished women like firefighter Celilo Miles.
Celilo’s remarks echo the lingerie brand’s prior message: “Everyone wanted to be in that club, but you felt you didn’t belong there.”
“I used to watch the Victoria’s Secret fashion show and fantasize of being up on that stage,” she said. The Nez Perce Tribe-Wildland firefighter admitted that she used to try to lose weight in order to fit in after being affected by what she saw and believing it was the correct thing to do.
Sofia will also walk the runway alongside plus-size models including Paloma Elsesser and Devyn Garcia.
She’s also in the Sin Limites ad, which is inclusive, promoting her own lingerie line.
