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Alex Consani revealed how it felt to break barriers as the first trans model to walk in the Victoria's Secret show.
In a cover interview with teen fashionthe 21-year-old model reflected on the historic walk down the Victoria's Secret runway.
She explained that she didn't even realize she would be the first trans model to show off at the annual fashion show. Consani told the outlet that she had assumed trans model Valentina Sampaio held that title after appearing in a Victoria's Secret campaign in 2019.
“It's crazy, though, because I didn't even realize I was the first one to walk until after I walked in the show,” Consani said. “I thought Valentina had already walked a while ago, so having that in mind took the pressure off.”
However, he stressed to the outlet that there was more work to be done in terms of representation, adding that it could be difficult to advocate for change when many people in power are actively working against minority groups.
“It's scary, though, because if you talk about the need for diversity to someone in power, they might throw you out and say, 'Well, if you're upset, then we'll make sure you're not included.' ” she explained, noting that her rise in the fashion industry could be attributed in part to her whiteness. “When we talk about fashion, we talk about what society considers beautiful or acceptable.”
“I don't see the people who inspire me doing the same work I do or receiving the same support. “It’s disturbing,” Consani continued. “Where are the colored dolls? Where are the South Asian models? The Native American/Indigenous models? “I am close to the people in those communities and that has really changed my perception of fashion.”
She also noted that many of the things the public celebrates her for, including her hilarious TikTok presence, are heavily influenced by Black trans women.
“The personality I have and the energy I give is heavily inspired by black trans women,” she explained. “People see me as cutesy and different, but if you're ever around a black doll, you get the same energy I'm famous for. “They celebrate me because I am white.”
Consani said she envisions a future where models do more than strut down the runway: They use their voices to make an impact.
“We're at a point where people generally recognize that you have to support a disadvantaged community so that everyone sees them as equals,” he said. “Fashion, now more than ever, values a voice. If you have the ability to use your voice, then you have to use it.”
The fashion show marked the lingerie giant's first live runway event since 2018. Many of the brand's “angels” returned to the runway Tuesday night, including Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Tyra Banks and Adriana Lime. They joined newcomers Consani, Sampaio, Lila Moss, Ashley Graham and Paloma Elsesser to celebrate the fashion show's return after its six-year hiatus.
