The stage is getting bigger for Sofía Jirau. The 24-year-old Puerto Rican model has made history by becoming the first Victoria’s Secret model with Down syndrome.
“One day I dreamed of it, I worked on it, and today it is a dream come true,” Jirau wrote in Spanish on Instagram. “I can finally tell you my big secret… I am the first Victoria’s Secret model with Down syndrome!”
According to NBC News, Jirau also becomes only the second Puerto Rican model featured in a campaign for Victoria’s Secret. The first was Joan Smalls, who made her runway debut in 2011.
Jirau started her modeling career in 2019 and launched her own online store, Alavett, and a Spanish-language campaign called “No Limits” to encourage people with Down syndrome to never give up on their dreams.
When Remezcla spoke to Jirau in 2020, she had completed New York Fashion Week for the first time. “I’m going all over the world,” she said from her home in San Juan. “There is no fear. In and out, there are no limits. I’m not scared of anything, eso se va pa’ la calle.”
Jirau took to social media to thank all her supporters and Victoria’s Secret for their support: “Thanks to all of you for always supporting me in my projects. Thanks to @victoriassecret for seeing me as a #NoLimits model and making me part of the Love Cloud Collection inclusion campaign. This is just the beginning, now it’s formed! Inside and out there are no limits, Alavett!”