You need to learn the name Sofía Jirau because she's about to become a big-time model.
She has over 60,000 followers on Instagram and counting, and she's making a major splash in the fashion world.
Instagram | @sofiajir
Model With Down Syndrome Rocks New York Fashion Week Runway
Meet Sofía Jirau!
Sofía is a model, influencer, and brand owner from Puerto Rico.
She recently walked at New York Fashion Week, and she's making headlines around the world for smashing old, tired beauty standards and paving her own way in the fashion industry.
She's wanted to be a model her whole life.
"When I was little, I looked myself in the mirror and said, 'I’m going to be a model and a businesswoman,'" she told People in an exclusive interview.
She's got both down pat now.
She started pretty young.
Like, toddler young!
"#FlashbackFriday to my first cover in "Cheers a Day" dedicated to kids like me who have no limits."
After that, Sofía decided to make her CEO and modelling dreams come true.
See, Sofía owns her own brand.
It's called "Alavett," named for the phrase, "I love it."
She told People that she thinks of Alavett as her "shout of joy."
The brand currently has t-shirts, phone cases, and so much more available on its online shop.
And now she's walking fashion shows, too.
One of her first shows was for Kelvin Giovannie in 2019. She said that she wanted to prove there were no limits, and she totally nailed it!
After that, fashion week called.
She walked in 2020's New York Fashion Week.
She walked for Marisa Santiago in multiple different looks, including this shiny animal print number.
"I was born for this and I want to show the world that I have everything a model needs to shine," she said.
She was there in partnership with The SOCIETY.
They're a global fashion tour who brought Sofía along to model for them!
She was so excited to model at NYFW that she posted a countdown leading up to it.
She trained for months for her debut.
Sofía and her team connected with modelling and pageant consultant Benjamin Diaz. Over the course of a few months, she studied diction, dance, and modelling.
It totally paid off during her Fashion Week walk.
Her family has been incredibly supportive of her work.
They even flew out from Puerto Rico to see her walk on her first Fashion Week runway.
She's been modelling for them her whole life, and said that it made her feel great to hear everyone clapping for her.
She thanked them in a sweet Instagram post.
"Thanks to my family for joining me in New York. i love them a lot, they are always in my heart."
Okay, so that is a beautiful family. No wonder Sofía is a model, huh?
Sofía's rise has even nabbed her sponsorship opportunities with big companies.
Like Pantene-level big. She's a Pantene ambassador who posts about a ton of their new releases.
Honestly, I trust this ambassadorship, because Sofía has princess-level hair. 10/10 would follow in her footsteps.
She has no fear.
"I look at myself in the mirror and I get strength," she said when asked about challenges she's faced in her career.
Sofía simply doesn't have time for fear. It's not in her vocabulary.
Armando Lorenzo, one of the volunteers on her team, agrees.
"Sofía doesn’t know challenges or limits," he said. "She sees everything as an opportunity to show she has [what it takes]."
Having a supportive team around her has allowed her to dream big.
He said she doesn't know how to address questions about challenges, because she overcomes them.
"She doesn’t know how to answer that because we try to keep those words out of her vocabulary so she understands she’s able to achieve everything she sets her mind to… as she has up until now."
She wants to travel even more now.
"I’m going to Europe later," she told People. "And to the rest of the world."
It's up to Armando to make that happen — but he's absolutely up to the challenge.
All they want to do is make big things happen for her.
Armando said they try to do everything Sofía aspires to.
"We’re trying to connect her with designers over there. If that’s her goal, it’s our challenge. We’re working hard to take her there if that’s what she wants."
No fear, no limits.
"I’m going all over the world," she told Remezcla. "There is no fear. In and out, there are no limits. I’m not scared of anything, eso se va pa’ la calle."
You just have to follow her Instagram.
It's one of the happiest, most joyful Instagram accounts I've ever seen. Sofía just radiates positivity, and her ever-growing following just gives that right back to her. Her comments are full of heart emojis and good vibes.
She also has a website.
And a YouTube channel! You can check out her modelling portfolio on her site, and watch some of her videos on her YouTube channel.
I truly can't wait to see what she does next. What a queen.
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