Sofía Jirau, a Puerto Rican model, gained attention when she appeared as one of the few models with Down Syndrome at New York Fashion Week. Now, she’s making history again by becoming the first Victoria’s Secret model with Down Syndrome. She expressed her joy on Instagram, sharing her dream come true.
The 25-year-old model introduced Alavett, a line of clothing and accessories, signaling her ambition as a multi-talented individual. She now also adds representing a global brand as part of their latest inclusive campaign.
“I dreamt of it one day, worked on it, and today it’s a reality. Can I finally reveal my big news? I am the first Victoria’s Secret model with Down syndrome!” she captioned her post.
“Thanks to all of you for always supporting my projects. Thanks to @victoriassecret for recognizing me as a #NoLimits model and including me in the Love Cloud Collection campaign. This is just the beginning, there are no limits, Alavett!”
She joins the “Love Cloud Collection” along with Nez Perce Tribe-Wildland firefighter Celilo Miles, Cuban Miami-native Devyn Garcia, and Black multiracial model Paloma Elsesser.
The comfort collection is launching this week and is designed to be inclusive of all sizes and comfortable for everyday wear.
“Love Cloud Collection is a significant moment in the brand’s evolution. From the exceptional women who bring the collection to life to the inclusive atmosphere on set, this campaign is a crucial part of the new Victoria’s Secret standard we are creating,” said Raúl Martinez, Head Creative Director of Victoria’s Secret, in a press release.
Jirau also revealed that her secret to achieving her dreams is to love herself and she used the hashtag #medoylike along with a video of herself liking her own posts.
She is a living example of her motto “there are no limits, inside and out” and mentioned that her inspiration is fellow history-making Boricua. “I want to meet Jennifer Lopez. I admire her style and persona. I love all her attire,” she told PEOPLE. “I adore her music, her albums, her photos. Everything.“
Aside from being a model and entrepreneur, she is also an advocate for the Down Syndrome community. Last October, she launched the Limitless campaign.
On the website, she provides statistics, stating that approximately 14 of every 10,000 live births in the United States are born with Down syndrome; in Puerto Rico, it is around 13 of every 10,000 live births, according to the Institute of Puerto Rico.
The website dispels myths about the community, including the misconception that they are unemployable. As she mentioned in the post, her driving force is self-love and inspiring the world to do the same.
