“In her editorial column for next month’s issue, Emmanuelle Alt goes on to say the transgender model is the “absolute equal” of other iconic women in fashion. ‘Apart from one small detail, Valentina, the femme fatale, was born a boy,’ she adds. ‘It’s a detail one would prefer not to have to mention… but Valentina is on the cover of Vogue this month, not just for her looks or her sparkling personality, but because despite herself she embodies an age-old arduous struggle to be recognized and not to be perceived as something Other.'”
Adds American Vogue:
In her editor’s letter in the issue, Alt writes that when Sampaio turned up at a studio in London to be shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, she looked exactly like her idea of a typical French Vogue beauty, any Vogue beauty, no different from Daria Werbowy or Anna Ewers; it’s just that she happened to be born a boy. Alt goes on to say she felt it was important right now, crucial even, to celebrate those who are transgender, adding that when the day comes that a model like Sampaio can appear on a magazine cover without the publication needing to mention a model’s chosen gender identity, then victory really will have been achieved.
The influential Monica Roberts leading African American blogger had a thing or two to say on this on her TransGriot blog:
" 'But only when a transgender person poses on the front cover of a fashion magazine and it is no longer necessary to write an editorial on the subject will we know that the battle is won.-Emmanuelle Alt, French Vogue editor
The French edition of Vogue magazine was founded in 1920, and despite the long list of stunning French trans women like Coccinelle, Marie-Pier Ysser, Marie-Pierre 'Bambi' Pruvot and most recently model Ines-Loan Rau, I was surprised to discover that Vogue Paris has never had a trans woman on the cover of their magazine until now.
The trans woman who has made that breakthrough fashion and French magazine history is Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio. She recently graced the cover of Elle Brazil, and has starred in an ad campaign for L'oreal Paris.
"This month we are proud to celebrate transgender beauty and how models like Valentina Sampaio, who is posing for her first ever Vogue cover, are changing the face of fashion and deconstructing prejudice."said Vogue Paris on their Instagram account and pic of the historic cover."
The 21 year old Sampaio is also set to rip the runway for Saint Laurent soon, and will be on the March cover of Vogue Paris that hits newsstands on February 23. It is the first time ever that a trans feminine woman has graced the cover of any French magazine.
The translated French title from the cover reads: Transgender beauty; How they're shaking up the world.
We most certainly are. It's also just another day and another historic accomplishment checked off the list for my sisters here in the US and around the world who are part of the long stylish line of trans models.
Vogue Paris editor Emmanuelle Alt said,"Valentina is on the cover of Vogue this month, not just for her looks or her sparkling personality, but because despite herself she embodies an age-old arduous struggle to be recognised and not to be perceived as something Other.”
Good news on the business of transgender visibility and fashion in particular.
also see:
The long stylish line of trans models has led the way in breaking ground for our community not only in the modeling world, but at times through their activism on behalf of themselves and this community.
Proud to announce that for the first time in the 111 year history of the iconic Spiegel catalog, a girl like us will grace the cover of it.
Arisce Wanzer in October 2016, who recently appeared as one of the stars of the reality show Strut, is the model who will be making this inevitable breakthrough.
Congratulations to her, and hope to continue seeing her do her thing in the modeling world. It also proves once again if given an opportunity to do so, we (LGBT) can don anything and excel at it.
Peace & tolerance
H
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