Valentina Sampaio Poses For Revealing Sports Illustrated Photos

Valentina Sampaio Poses For Revealing Sports Illustrated Photos

Valentina Sampaio posed for revealing Sports Illustrated swimsuit photos recently. In doing so, the 23-year-old became the first transgender model to ever be featured in the magazine.

Sampaio is clearly very proud of her achievement, and referred to it as a huge milestone not just for her but the entire LGBT community.

“The team at SI has created yet another groundbreaking issue by bringing together a diverse set of multitalented, beautiful women in a creative and dignified way,” she said in a recent interview.

“I am excited and honored to be part [of this].”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

I am excited and honored to be part of the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The team at SI has created yet another groundbreaking issue by bringing together a diverse set of multitalented, beautiful women in a creative and dignified way. I was born trans in a remote, humble fishing village in northern Brazil. 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 U.S. Being trans usually means facing closed doors to peoples’ hearts and minds. 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. 💜🧡💛❤️💚

A post shared by Valentina Sampaio (@valentts) on Jul 10, 2020 at 5:44am PDT

Sports Illustrated has often found itself at the center of controversy for promoting unrealistic beauty standards, so this is a welcome bit of public relations for the magazine.

Sampaio’s photos were taken on Scrub Island by photographer Josie Clough.

This accomplishment for Sampaio comes on the heels of her becoming the first trans model to work a deal with Victoria’s Secret. She and Victoria’s Secret came together for a lingerie line called PINK.

The Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue featuring Sampaio will hit the shelves on July 21.

Related: Jarvis Landry Calls Out Tom Brady For Not Speaking Out

Charles Kruger

Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.