Armani Beauty's Trans Activist Valentina Sampaio by Kristin Vicari for Harper's Bazaar UK AOC Fashion

In our bullet-point world, worthy news often goes unreported. In November 2021, Valentina Sampaio became the new face of Armani Beauty, joining Cate Blanchett. The first-ever transgender Victoria’s Secret model, who made a big splash in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues of 2020 and 2021, began calling herself Valentina at age 12.

Now Valentina Sampaio is an ambassador for one of the world’s most prestigious brands. Harper’s Bazaar UK shared news of Valentina’s Armani Beauty appointment in November, with her hopes that other brands will follow in Armani Beauty’s footsteps by embracing the trans community.

These Armani Beauty images of Valentina Sampaio appear in the February 2022 issue of Harper’s UK. Tilly Wheating styles Sampaio in ‘Bold Thinking’, clearly a quiet reference to the model’s trans status, as well as Armani-style ‘bold’ makeup.

Neither the model or the brand speak with a megaphone, a reality reflected in the serene images photographer by Kristin Vicari [IM]./ Hair by Bjorn Krischker; makeup by Valeria Ferreira