“Violence against our communities has continued to rise in 2021. In fact, 2021 is on track to be the deadliest on record [for trans people] in America. I know that more than 100 anti-trans bills have been proposed this year [and] thirteen of those bills have passed. We have a lot of work to do and the trans community urgently needs everyone’s support right now. I want what everyone wants—the right to be myself.” says Valentina Sampaio, the model who most notably became Victoria’s Secret and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue’s first openly transgender model in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Since 2016, the trailblazing beauty has become a force to be reckoned with after her grand debut with L’Oreal and industry-shattering Vogue covers in the years after. Even with all of her accolades at the impressive age of only 24-years-old, Sampaio hasn’t put her mission for trans visibility to the wayside. In an new film written and directed by Branislav Jankic and Jesse Ball that combines elements of theatricality and traditional video cinematography with CGI and 3D design, Valentina stars alongside a larger group of trans individuals, trailblazers in their own right, to recreate a music video set to the tunes of “Lambada”—the chart-topping hit from 1989 by French-Brazilian band Kaoma. 

“‘LAMBADA RED WHITE BLUE’ arrives at a crucial time. When our society turns against its own—who is it that is injured? There is no puzzle. We must see trans-Americans as they are, a gentle community extending its hands, lifting its proud head. These beautiful faces—full of all the possibilities nascent in the human vocabulary of life and change—point the way,” explains director and writer Jankic and Ball. Alongside the upbeat video starring the all-trans cast, a moment of reflection is prompted by Sampaio, as the model recites the names of those beloved individuals who have lost their lives to anti-trans violence in America. Honoring the many lost lives that resulted in 2020 being one of the deadliest years for the global trans community, Sampaio simultaneously unveils a collaborative new NFT digital art piece in the form of a dress, designed by digital artist NERI (Gia Djahaia). Developed directly on her body as she memorializes the fallen angels of the community, the CGI dress will be sold as an NFT this week as the proceeds from the sale of the dress are donated to LGBTQIA+ charities, in partnership with blockchain leader, LUKSO.

“Never before has there been a greater opportunity to bridge the gap between our physical reality and the metaverse with the merging of creative industries: fashion, art, and technology for the greater good. All of these industries can cause harm without intentionality, and therefore along with Valentina and the LGBTQIA+ community, we unite them to save lives and evolve humanity towards a new reality where all people can thrive, powered by love. Together we are limitless,” explains Christiana Tien Tran of The Lions Management, as the one-of-a-kind project breaks boundaries on the possibilities with fashion and technology. 

The NFT dress sale is exclusively available on www.lambadadyedredwhiteblue.com.

Check out the full film below!