In a show that redefined beauty, culture, and inclusivity, 20-year-old Valentina Castro made history at the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York, becoming the first Colombian model ever to walk the brand’s iconic runway. Hailing from Tumaco, Nariño—a coastal gem in Colombia’s Pacific region—Castro’s moment was about representation, pride, and rewriting the narrative for Latinas and Afro-Latinas everywhere.
Valentina’s journey sounds straight out of a movie. Growing up in humble surroundings, she learned to braid hair as a child, earning a few dollars per client while filling her neighborhood with creativity and joy. Those early days shaped her artistry and grounded her identity.
But the tides turned when a talent scout stumbled across her photos online. Her natural confidence and striking presence caught his attention. After some hesitation (her family worried it was a scam), she leaped, and it changed everything.
Soon, she was training in the Dominican Republic, then walking for Louis Vuitton in Paris at just 18. That debut, complete with her signature braids, was followed by a whirlwind that included Dior, Balmain, Harper’s Bazaar, and L’Officiel campaigns, all while proudly repping her Afro-Colombian roots. As she once said, she wanted young Black girls in Colombia to see her and think, “That could be me.”
Breaking Barriers on the Victoria’s Secret Runway
Fast forward to 2025, and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returned with a new mission to highlight diversity, empowerment, and inclusion. The perfect platform for Valentina Castro.
She hit the runway in the brand’s Pink line, rocking a pastel athleisure set—joggers, hoodie, and cap—with her long braids flowing behind her. Her energy was effortless, confident, and magnetic. In a single walk, she shattered decades of underrepresentation: no Colombian model had ever walked this stage before.
Media across Latin America called it “the moment Colombia broke the runway.” And she wasn’t alone. The show spotlighted a new generation of Latina icons, with Karol G—also Colombian—performing live and wearing her wings for the first time in history. Together, they turned the runway into a global celebration of culture and power.
¡HOLA! Takes Over the VSFS Backstage
During an exclusive backstage interview with ¡HOLA! Valentina shared the pride and excitement of representing her land and Latinidad. "I'm represing Tumaco. I'm the first Colombian who walk the Victoria's Secret," she says with a smile. "I'm thrilled."
Ahead of her debut, the top model said she was looking forward to "giving her all and enjoying every step."
Valentina, who also shared the stage with Karol G, revealed that "Ivonny bonita" is one of her favorite songs and that she hypes herself using Spanish-language words and lyrics from the singer, such as "I'm fantastic, I'm magnificent."
The Colombian beauty also said that if she gets the chance to wear Victoria's Secret wings with a superpower, they would be the ones that give "the most confidence," and she would prefer them in "pink." A color choice very on-brand with her debut.
In addition, Valentina reminisced on the day she learned she secured a coveted spot in the Class of 2025. "To be honest, I had no words," she paused, trying to find the most accurate way to describe the overwhelming feeling. "I was very proud of myself, I felt on cloud 9 and wonderful, happy, excited, I could not believe it, until I arrived at the fittings and then I realized it was happening, I was actually here."
A Wave of Pride Across Colombia
Back home, the reaction was electric. Social media went above and beyond with pride as fans posted, “¡Qué rico se siente ser colombiana!” (“It feels so good to be Colombian!”). Valentina trended worldwide, her walk becoming a viral symbol of how far representation has come.
To date, Valentina's video interview with ¡HOLA! has gained thousands of likes, comments, and shares, highlighting her success as a significant step towards visibility and inclusion.
Victoria’s Secret’s Reinvention
Valentina’s milestone arrives during a reinvention of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which was off-air for a few years, returning in 2024. The 2025 comeback show, held in Brooklyn, featured models of all sizes, ethnicities, and abilities.
The cast included stars like Bella and Gigi Hadid, Paloma Elsesser, Jasmine Tookes, Barbie Ferreira, and Marina Moioli. The musical acts—Twice, Missy Elliott, Madison Beer, and Karol G—added even more cultural depth to the show’s revamped identity.
Victoria’s Secret has called this era its “renaissance of confidence,” trading its old “fantasy” for something real, empowering, and inclusive.
From Tumaco to the World
For Valentina Castro, this isn’t the finish line; it’s just the beginning. Her story is already inspiring a generation of young Latin American girls who see themselves reflected on one of fashion’s biggest stages for the first time.
From braiding hair in Tumaco’s warm streets to owning the catwalk in New York, Valentina has become the face of a new chapter in global fashion. Her message to the world is to dream big, walk proudly, and never forget where you came from.
As the lights dimmed and the confetti settled on the 2025 Victoria’s Secret runway, Valentina Castro walked right into history.