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Now Casting: Sara Sampaio
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This article was originally published May 5, 2015.
Newly named Victoria’s Secret Angel Sara Sampaio isn’t exactly the new girl on the block. She’s been modeling for VS Pink for four years and has over one million loyal Instagram followers (CR employees included) to prove it. Sara stopped by the office this week to tell us about her wild ride from modeling contests in Portugal to Victoria’s Secret Angeldom—and then we gossiped about how to handle haters on Instagram, her favorite workouts in New York, and the best shows to watch on Netflix.
How did you react when Victoria’s Secret told you that you’re an Angel?
“It’s funny because my agent called me asked, ‘have you heard?’ I was like, ‘have you heard what? What am I supposed to know already?’ He said, ‘no one told you?’ I said, ‘told me what? What is this about?’ I had no idea. I’ve been working with VS for almost four years, so it was something I wanted, but it was never something we had discussed. He told me that VS wants me to be an angel, and all I could think was, ‘it’s it finally happening?’ It was very surreal. Things only actually became real after they made the announcement. We had to keep it a secret for two months until then.”
How will you be stepping up in your new role at VS?
“Before this, I only worked on the VS Pink line. Now I’m an official spokesperson for the brand and I’ll be in the TV commercials, as well as walking in the show as an Angel. Some of my favorite ever photos are from Victoria’s Secret shoots. I love shooting with Russell James. David Bellemere is also amazing because he’s able to create moments you didn’t know you had in you.”
How were you were discovered?
“I’m from Portugal. When I was 16 I won a modeling contest and the prize for winning was being signed to an agency. I had first gone when I was 15, but they told be to come back next year—I won the following year. My parents were very strict about me finishing high school though, so I didn’t start to travel for work until I turned 19. I’m 23 now. It’s a been a slow process, but it’s been really good.”
You’re very vocal when it comes to the comments section of your Instagram. Why is it important to you to respond to all of the body-shaming?
“You can’t respond to everyone who writes something bad on Instagram, but I’m very emotional and sometimes I just have to—particularly when it comes to people body-shaming me. It’s awful for people to say anything about any body type, but people seem to think it’s fine to bash skinny girls, just because we’re thin. Most models I know are naturally skinny, and I’ve been like this all my life.”
What is your favorite way to exercise?
“I try to change up my workout routine or else I get very bored. Sometimes I train with Rob Piela from Gotham Gym, but I just started Model Fit which I really like too. I can’t do too much cardio because it makes me lose weight, so I mainly focus on exercise that helps to define muscles.”
But you’ve always been active?
“When I was younger I used to do karate—I had a brown belt. I used to swim; I love water. My dad is a commercial diver, so we were always around water. In Portugal, two thirds of our territory is water. We grew up by the beach and I had always liked to surf.”
Over the years, have any of the other Victoria’s Secret models acted as a mentor to you?
“All of the girls are amazing, beautiful, and I love how each one of them brings character. For example, Adriana is amazing and her beauty is so exotic; she’s a bombshell. If there was a picture in the dictionary next to the word “bombshell,” it would be of her and Candice. Behati is so laid-back and cool, but she can bring the sexy when she wants to. I look at each one of them and I try to take a little bit of each. Candice is just very very stunning and her body is incredible. She just exudes sex and sensuality, and I like that Behati is sexy but completely different sexy. All of them are very inspirational to even look and even be in the same category as an Angel as them. It’s very special.”
What is the most difficult part of all of this?
“For me, the hardest thing is not to take things too personally. It’s difficult to be constantly judged for the way you look. If a client is looking for a blonde, they’re not going to book me and it’s very important to learn not take that personally. And then the haters—especially on social media—they just became very vocal and loud, so I try not to get affected by it. Everyone has their bad days and you can read 50 good comments, it’s going to be that one that’s going to stick out in your mind and mess with it. There are down sides, but it’s an amazing industry to be a part of and you get to work and meet incredible people.”
Do you have any other hobbies outside of modeling?
“My main hobby right now is binge-watching TV shows. I watch everything: Grey’s Anatomy, The Royals, Revenge, Scandal, Suits, and Shameless! When I come home from long periods of traveling for work, all I want to do is stay at home and watch TV.”
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