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
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
160Kviews
Share on FacebookThat'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.
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...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.
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...Yey now we can exploit and objectify women with mental disabilities as well... Nothing against Sophia but this is not progress.
Just say VS is a garbage company and be done. "This is not progress" is categorically untrue, when so many people with this condition are not and historically have not been given the opportunity to work. I think of my beloved late aunt, who was recommended to be institutionalized at birth [1965]. My grandmother staunchly refused and took her home as she had with each of the 14 babies before. She could read, write, loved watching baseball and Disney/animated films. She definitely could have worked, but it wasn't encouraged at that time. This is progress, whether you approve of her profession is irrelevant.
Load More Replies...She's beautiful! I don't really like VS, but I'm glad that she was able to follow her dream. You go girl :)
Wow. She does a fantastic job! The green top and jeans is my favorite.
If anybody knows how I can find that shirt plz tell me
Load More Replies...its hard to tell they got someone with a disability modelling for them, they are defining her by her Down syndrome and than make her look like someone whos playing a character with Downs
I am confused. She has Down syndrome, she's proud of that fact, she's never tried to hide it [it's on her website?]. What do you mean?
Load More Replies...Ive known about her for a while. When my friend's baby was diagnosed in-vitro, the Doctor mentioned it as a reason to end the pregnancy (not a good one although to each her own) my friend said she got pregnant on the pill while using protection and it was amazing she was pregnant at all. I sent her a bunch of successful people with "disabilities". Het daughter is strong and beautiful now.
We have PORES. I wish we can all see natural skin texture, stretch marks, pigmentation. All this airbrushing/filtering to perfection is so unrealistic and it's getting tiresome.
Congratulations to her on realising her dream. She’s had to put up with nasty comments from women who should know better as well as ableist ignorant ones about “exploitation”. Disabled people are starting to get really sick and tired of being told garbage like this. It’s ignorant and frankly downright disrespectful. We are quite capable of deciding for ourselves thanks about how we want to live our lives. We aren’t objects for you to be inspired by, feel sorry for or make you feel better. We are human beings worthy of respect and it’s high time y’all realised that
I don’t understand the downvotes on your comment - what you’ve said is completely true. People get uncomfortable when they see disability represented beyond the narrow “tragic” or “inspirational” views that society tries to limit us to. But just because people aren’t used to seeing us living full lives beyond that doesn’t mean it’s doesn’t happen. Disabled adults are still adults, and need to be respected as such.
Load More Replies...Hey as long as you have ideal body proportions and a symmetrical face you can do anything in this life
I would never have known Sofia has Down syndrome. People with Down syndrome have a very distinct look that Sofia doesn't have. Is that the result of air brushing as mentioned here? She's very lovely about I hope she will continue to follow her dreams.
But on the thumbnail photo, she doesn't look like she has down syndrome...
It's brilliant that she got the VS gig, but telling other girls with down syndrome that there is no limit is a bit of a stretch, leading the girls on a fake dream. Let's not lie to ourselves that VS gave her the gig for anything other than PR.
Have any of her photos actually been used for marketing? I seriously doubt they will use the images in store displays or in advertising, but I could be wrong.
Load More Replies...She is lovely and I am so glad she is enjoying the success she deserves!
These woman are not forced to join VS. For them it’s something they strive to be. They are proud of their bodies. This young woman with Down syndrome is so happy to have been chosen. It bothers me that some of you say she’s not Down syndrome enough to represent people . It’s like saying someone is not black enough. If this makes her happy good for her. It’s not her or the other models that who are the problem it’s those nasty ass men that see them as sex objects.
What are our opinions on the agencies of people with Down's Syndrome and other conditions to decide to model? Victoria's secret is a lingerie brand, and inherently erotic, do people think someone with Down's Syndrome has the "right of mind" to go into something like this? And would that be prejudiced to decide someone else's (of adult age,) agency to choose to do what they want? Is someone with Down's Syndrome mentally "lesser" or just different? What are our opinions?
She's very pretty. It's nice she's gotten the chance to live her dream.
She has such beautiful eyes. Remember guys, no matter what, follow your dreams even if it is to become a therepist to solve your own problems!
THIS is how diversity works, naysayers. People with special needs deserve a shot at a full, rich life just like the rest of we imperfect human beings.
Please note you can just say disabled instead of “special needs” (or other cringy terms like “differently abled”, “handicapable” etc). Using euphemism suggests that there’s something wrong with disability, when it’s just one of many normal ways of being a human. Those other terms originate from non-disabled people who have discomfort with disability. Using the word disabled is appropriate and preferred. (Ps. Not commenting here to criticize you specifically. You seem kind and thoughtful, which is why I think you and others who want to support disabled people would want to know this)
Load More Replies...All great but why retouching her this much? She's beautiful as is! They even changed her eyes a bit. Shame! I'm a retoucher as well and I'd never do this!
Still amazes me how many women feel “empowered” by taking their clothes off and exploiting themselves, mostly for men. Smh
Still amazes me how idiots like you think women are taking of their clothes for assholes like you. The closest thing you'll ever get to a women is those squishy lips of your blowup doll. Smh
Load More Replies...I don't get the down votes here. Why should we feel good that this is her life goal?
Load More Replies...Why is it shitty? Just because you don't care for it, doesn't mean that the Sofia doesn't see it as a huge achievement. I am in no way a fan of Victoria Secrets, however, people with Down Syndrome are often infantilized and depicted as permanent children in media. The world of modeling has an looooooong way to go in terms of diversity, however, for people like Sofia it may be a huge achievement and goal to see themselves represented and seen as beautiful.
Load More Replies...You still can. You can abort for any reason.
Load More Replies...How is it exploitation when she lives modeling and her family supports her? Sounds like you're the one with a problem.
Load More Replies...A backhanded compliment to one woman, used to insult other women around her, is really not the stellar move you think it is.
Load More Replies...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.
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...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.
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...Yey now we can exploit and objectify women with mental disabilities as well... Nothing against Sophia but this is not progress.
Just say VS is a garbage company and be done. "This is not progress" is categorically untrue, when so many people with this condition are not and historically have not been given the opportunity to work. I think of my beloved late aunt, who was recommended to be institutionalized at birth [1965]. My grandmother staunchly refused and took her home as she had with each of the 14 babies before. She could read, write, loved watching baseball and Disney/animated films. She definitely could have worked, but it wasn't encouraged at that time. This is progress, whether you approve of her profession is irrelevant.
Load More Replies...She's beautiful! I don't really like VS, but I'm glad that she was able to follow her dream. You go girl :)
Wow. She does a fantastic job! The green top and jeans is my favorite.
If anybody knows how I can find that shirt plz tell me
Load More Replies...its hard to tell they got someone with a disability modelling for them, they are defining her by her Down syndrome and than make her look like someone whos playing a character with Downs
I am confused. She has Down syndrome, she's proud of that fact, she's never tried to hide it [it's on her website?]. What do you mean?
Load More Replies...Ive known about her for a while. When my friend's baby was diagnosed in-vitro, the Doctor mentioned it as a reason to end the pregnancy (not a good one although to each her own) my friend said she got pregnant on the pill while using protection and it was amazing she was pregnant at all. I sent her a bunch of successful people with "disabilities". Het daughter is strong and beautiful now.
We have PORES. I wish we can all see natural skin texture, stretch marks, pigmentation. All this airbrushing/filtering to perfection is so unrealistic and it's getting tiresome.
Congratulations to her on realising her dream. She’s had to put up with nasty comments from women who should know better as well as ableist ignorant ones about “exploitation”. Disabled people are starting to get really sick and tired of being told garbage like this. It’s ignorant and frankly downright disrespectful. We are quite capable of deciding for ourselves thanks about how we want to live our lives. We aren’t objects for you to be inspired by, feel sorry for or make you feel better. We are human beings worthy of respect and it’s high time y’all realised that
I don’t understand the downvotes on your comment - what you’ve said is completely true. People get uncomfortable when they see disability represented beyond the narrow “tragic” or “inspirational” views that society tries to limit us to. But just because people aren’t used to seeing us living full lives beyond that doesn’t mean it’s doesn’t happen. Disabled adults are still adults, and need to be respected as such.
Load More Replies...Hey as long as you have ideal body proportions and a symmetrical face you can do anything in this life
I would never have known Sofia has Down syndrome. People with Down syndrome have a very distinct look that Sofia doesn't have. Is that the result of air brushing as mentioned here? She's very lovely about I hope she will continue to follow her dreams.
But on the thumbnail photo, she doesn't look like she has down syndrome...
It's brilliant that she got the VS gig, but telling other girls with down syndrome that there is no limit is a bit of a stretch, leading the girls on a fake dream. Let's not lie to ourselves that VS gave her the gig for anything other than PR.
Have any of her photos actually been used for marketing? I seriously doubt they will use the images in store displays or in advertising, but I could be wrong.
Load More Replies...She is lovely and I am so glad she is enjoying the success she deserves!
These woman are not forced to join VS. For them it’s something they strive to be. They are proud of their bodies. This young woman with Down syndrome is so happy to have been chosen. It bothers me that some of you say she’s not Down syndrome enough to represent people . It’s like saying someone is not black enough. If this makes her happy good for her. It’s not her or the other models that who are the problem it’s those nasty ass men that see them as sex objects.
What are our opinions on the agencies of people with Down's Syndrome and other conditions to decide to model? Victoria's secret is a lingerie brand, and inherently erotic, do people think someone with Down's Syndrome has the "right of mind" to go into something like this? And would that be prejudiced to decide someone else's (of adult age,) agency to choose to do what they want? Is someone with Down's Syndrome mentally "lesser" or just different? What are our opinions?
She's very pretty. It's nice she's gotten the chance to live her dream.
She has such beautiful eyes. Remember guys, no matter what, follow your dreams even if it is to become a therepist to solve your own problems!
THIS is how diversity works, naysayers. People with special needs deserve a shot at a full, rich life just like the rest of we imperfect human beings.
Please note you can just say disabled instead of “special needs” (or other cringy terms like “differently abled”, “handicapable” etc). Using euphemism suggests that there’s something wrong with disability, when it’s just one of many normal ways of being a human. Those other terms originate from non-disabled people who have discomfort with disability. Using the word disabled is appropriate and preferred. (Ps. Not commenting here to criticize you specifically. You seem kind and thoughtful, which is why I think you and others who want to support disabled people would want to know this)
Load More Replies...All great but why retouching her this much? She's beautiful as is! They even changed her eyes a bit. Shame! I'm a retoucher as well and I'd never do this!
Still amazes me how many women feel “empowered” by taking their clothes off and exploiting themselves, mostly for men. Smh
Still amazes me how idiots like you think women are taking of their clothes for assholes like you. The closest thing you'll ever get to a women is those squishy lips of your blowup doll. Smh
Load More Replies...I don't get the down votes here. Why should we feel good that this is her life goal?
Load More Replies...Why is it shitty? Just because you don't care for it, doesn't mean that the Sofia doesn't see it as a huge achievement. I am in no way a fan of Victoria Secrets, however, people with Down Syndrome are often infantilized and depicted as permanent children in media. The world of modeling has an looooooong way to go in terms of diversity, however, for people like Sofia it may be a huge achievement and goal to see themselves represented and seen as beautiful.
Load More Replies...You still can. You can abort for any reason.
Load More Replies...How is it exploitation when she lives modeling and her family supports her? Sounds like you're the one with a problem.
Load More Replies...A backhanded compliment to one woman, used to insult other women around her, is really not the stellar move you think it is.
Load More Replies...
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