Valentina Castro Rojas, a 22-year-old model from Tumaco, a district in Colombia known as the “Pearl of the Pacific,” is making history in the fashion world. She is set to become the first Colombian to walk for Victoria’s Secret. Her debut will take place during the iconic Fashion Show on October 15.
The event will be streamed on Prime Video, starting at 7:00 pm ET. Castro was included in the list of models participating in the highly anticipated show.
The model shared her experience at the Victoria’s Secret casting in New York through a video on her Instagram account. She boasts over 44,000 followers on the platform. Castro described the opportunity as “very big,” expressing her desire to make the most of it.
Castro’s journey began in humble neighborhoods of Tumaco, a region of Colombia known for its high ethnic diversity. As a young woman, she earned money and connected with her identity by braiding Afro hair for her community. This early interaction with Afro aesthetics was her first link to the visual world before she entered professional modeling.
She shared her excitement about the New York casting on social media. In a video, she stated, “It’s my first time in New York, and I’m going to the Victoria’s Secret casting. I am very excited, very happy, very content. Thank God, just being here makes me very happy and grateful.” She was called back for a second round, indicating she surpassed initial tests to join a select group of models.
Standing approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, Castro’s height is competitive on international runways. Her natural aesthetic, dark skin, Afro-Colombian features, and braided hairstyles distinguish her within the modeling circuit. This look adds significant diversity to traditional beauty standards.
Her rise in the industry has been rapid, largely beginning in 2023. A talent scout discovered her after she posted photos of her self-styled hair on social media while still in Tumaco. Following this invitation, she traveled to the Dominican Republic for professional training to develop her modeling career.
Before her Victoria’s Secret announcement, Castro had already walked for international brands. She participated in Paris Fashion Week for a luxury fashion house, followed by presentations in South Korea and Italy.
Castro emphasizes that her role extends beyond modeling; she aims to represent Afro-descendant women and their natural features. She has stated in interviews that “you can do many more things with Afro hair than with straightened hair. I feel it looks very beautiful.” Her humble background and connection to hair braiding have given her an authentic voice to discuss identity, roots, and beauty.
Her appearance in the Victoria’s Secret show is not only a personal achievement but also a symbolic step for Afro-Colombian models. Her presence helps to ensure the fashion world opens its doors to those who have historically been underrepresented.
Castro lives with her mother, who sells catalog products, and her sisters in Tumaco. Her father is a fisherman. She has shared that despite significant changes in her life due to modeling, she maintains a close relationship with her family. One of her most cherished childhood memories is braiding hair alongside her sister.