Sofía Jirau

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Jirau and the second or maternal family name is González.

Sofía Isabel Jirau González (born March 26, 1997) is a Puerto Rican model with Down syndrome.^[1][2]

Sofía Jirau
Born	Sofía Isabel Jirau González (1997-03-26) March 26, 1997 (age 27) Puerto Rico
Occupation	Model
Website	sofiajirau.com

Personal life

Jirau was born in Puerto Rico to Frankie Jirau and Mimi González. She is the second eldest of four children.^[2][3][4][5] On April 29, 2020, on an Instagram Live, Jirau revealed she was in a relationship with Christopher González, a chef with Down Syndrome who owns a food truck. Both met at her job. According to her boyfriend, it was love at first sight.^[6][7][8] In an interview with People magazine, when asked who her fashion icon was, Jirau answered it was Jennifer Lopez. She also stated that she wanted to meet her.^[3]

Career

Jirau made her modeling debut at a fashion show for designer Wanda Beauchamp at age 16. However, she officially started working as a model on March 26, 2019, her 23rd birthday.^[1] Since then, she has modeled for top designers. On February 10, 2020, the 24 year old Puerto Rican model made her debut at New York Fashion Week, becoming one of the few models with Down syndrome to participate in this event. Her debut was covered dozens of media outlets around the world, such as Vogue Mexico, People, ¡Hola!, among others.^{[1][9][10][11][5][12][3][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]}

Jirau became an entrepreneur in 2019 by launching an online store, which is named "Alavett", based on her favorite phrase "I love it", where she offers clothing, accessories, and home products. She also dreams of becoming an actress.^[20][5]

The model has made several partnerships with different brands, as well as upcoming modeling shows in Puerto Rico.^[12] She has also made appearances in videos telling her story, as well as awareness campaigns about Down Syndrome encouraging the community that there's no limits to accomplish one's dreams.^{[21][22][23][24]}

In February 2022, Jirau became the first-ever model with Down Syndrome to be hired by the American retail company Victoria's Secret.^[25] According to a press release, she, alongside 17 other women, promotes Victoria's Secret's new all-day comfort Love Cloud line, which the brand believes would "reinforce(e) Victoria's Secret's commitment to welcoming and celebrating all women." The announcement was covered by several news outlets in Puerto Rico and the U.S., as well as covered by magazines.^{[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]}

Currently, Jirau works as an Experience Ambassador in the Puerto Rican company INprende, which has served as Jirau's supporter in fulfilling her dreams.^[1][2]

References

1. VOCERO, Yomaris Rodríguez, EL (6 May 2019). "Pasarela de sueños". El Vocero de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-02-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
2. "Sofía Jirau una modelo y empresaria sin límites". issuu. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
3. "NYFW: Model with Down Syndrome Says 'There Are No Limits'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
4. Cruz Medina, Delwing (2020-02-20). "La historia de Sofía Jirau, la modelo con síndrome de Down que brilló en la Semana de la Moda de Nueva York". La Prensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-02-18.
5. Díaz, Griseida. "Sofía Jirau, la modelo boricua con síndrome de Down que conquista las pasarelas y nos inspira". mamaslatinas.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
6. "Sofía Jirau: "Estoy enamorada"". www.magacin.com (in Spanish). 30 April 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
7. "Sofía Jirau presenta a su novio". El Vocero de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). 30 April 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
8. "¡Enamorada! | Sofía Jirau presenta a su novio por las redes". Telemundo Puerto Rico (in Spanish). 30 April 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
9. "Latina Model With Down Syndrome Sofía Jirau Walks at New York Fashion Week". www.yahoo.com. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
10. "Latina Model With Down Syndrome Walks at New York Fashion Week". The Mighty. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
11. "Puerto Rican model with Down Syndrome, Sofía Jirau is conquering the fashion world". HOLA! USA. 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
12. "Meet Sofía Jirau, The Puerto Rican Model With Down Syndrome Who Is Shaking Up The Exclusive Fashion Scene". Remezcla. 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
13. "Sofía Jirau, la modelo con Síndrome de Down que desfiló en Nueva York". www.milenio.com (in Mexican Spanish). 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
14. "En el Día Mundial del Síndrome de Down: ella es Sofía Jirau". ICONOS MAG - Honduras, San Pedro Sula (in Spanish). 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
15. Carmona Fagundes, Stephanie (2020-02-20). "Puerto Rican Model With Down Syndrome Made A Spectacular Debut At NYFW". Retrieved 2021-02-17.
16. "Joven puertorriqueña con Síndrome Down se prepara para modelar en Nueva York". www.magacin.com (in Spanish). 17 January 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
17. "Puertorriqueña desafía el síndrome Down y modela en Nueva York". www.magacin.com (in Spanish). 9 February 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
18. "Sofía Jirau, la modelo latina con síndrome de down que decantó en el Fashion Week de Nueva York". Vogue Mexico (in Mexican Spanish). 13 February 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
19. Sepúlveda, Bárbara (March 2020). "Sofía Jirau abre el primer desfile del año en la Isla". El Vocero de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-02-18.
20. "Portfolio". Sofia Jirau Model (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-02-26.
21. SOFÍA JIRAUD NO SE QUITA, retrieved 2021-02-18
22. Virella, Aiola (8 October 2021). "Sofía Jirau lanza campaña de empoderamiento". Metro (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-10-25.
23. Román, Alexis (2021-10-11). "Sofía Jirau sigue Sin Límites - TeleOnce TV | Vívelo" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-10-25.
24. "Para Sofía Jirau no hay límites que impidan lograr sus sueños". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). 2021-10-03. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
25. "Meet Victoria's Secret First Model with Down Syndrome".
26. "Meet Sofia Jirau, Victoria's Secret's 1st Model With Down Syndrome". Us Weekly. 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
27. Jacqui Palumbo (17 February 2022). "Victoria's Secret campaign features first model with Down syndrome". CNN. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
28. Shivaram, Deepa (2022-02-17). "Victoria's Secret features its first model with Down syndrome". NPR. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
29. Court, Andrew (2022-02-17). "Meet Sofía Jirau, the first Victoria's Secret model with Down syndrome". New York Post. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
30. "'We have no limits': Sofía Jirau on breaking barriers as a model with Down syndrome". NBC News. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
31. Miranda, Gabriela. "'Dream come true': Puerto Rican model is Victoria's Secret first with Down syndrome". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
32. Etienne, Vanessa (2022-02-17). "Sofía Jirau, 24, Becomes Victoria's Secret's First Model with Down Syndrome: 'Dream Come True'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
33. Isaad, Virginia (2022-02-15). "Puerto Rican Sofía Jirau Makes History as First Victoria's Secret Model with Down Syndrome". HipLatina. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
34. America, Good Morning. "Sofía Jirau makes history as Victoria's Secret first model with Down syndrome". Good Morning America. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
35. "24-year-old Puerto Rican becomes 1st Victoria's Secret model with Down syndrome". TODAY.com. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-26.