Fashion

This Victoria's Secret Model Alleges A Nude Cover Ran Without Her Consent

by Kali Borovic
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

The conversation about consent and sexual harassment is far from over. This time, a model is bravely speaking out about alleged misconduct from a French magazine that published nude photos of her on their cover when she specifically told them not to. According to her Instagram post, Victoria's Secret model Sara Sampaio alleges that French publication Lui magazine posted the unapproved nude cover shot. Now Sampaio is using her platform speak out about consent, and her message is undeniably important for women everywhere.

The Harvey Weinstein allegations in Hollywood have recently inspired women to speak out about their own experience with sexual violence and harassment. Some are posting the two word phrase #MeToo on social media, while others are specifically calling out people and companies that have allegedly wronged them in. And now Sampaio is joining with movement of brave women by speaking out with her own harrowing allegations.

Sampaio's Instagram post brings to light some of the pressures faced in the modeling industry, and the lines of consent that can be crossed in photoshoots. The model claims that despite having a "no nudity" clause in her contract, Lui magazine a photos where the Sampaio's nipple was visible without her consent.

"Even with my 'No Nudity' clause in my agreement with Lui, I was aggressively pressured to do nude shots on set, asking me why I didn't want to show my nipples or go fully nude," Sampiao writes.

"While reviewing the final images taken, I noticed that there were accidental exposures with parts of my body that I didn't want exposed," she furthers. "I spoke up and was assured that the images would not be used. The magazine lied and proceeded to publish a cover image of me with nudity, which was in clear violation of our contract."

Although Sampaio shares that she is taking legal action against the publication, it's the messages that she gives to other women out there that is so important. In the post, she writers about how all women have a right to say what happens to their body.

"As models and as women, we need to stand together and demand the respect we deserve," Sampaio writes. "We have the right to make our own individual choices abut our bodies, our image, and our lives."

It's a strong message about that resonates both inside and outside the modeling world.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

According to Sampaio's Instagram post, this isn't the first time she has felt pressured on set to show her body. The model's post explains that this sort of alleged behavior is unfortunately common in the industry. She alleges that there were even times where her own photos were used against her to pressure her to pose nude.

“On many occasions where the shoot was to not have nudity, I would arrive on set and the photographer or stylist would pressure, cajole or demand that I pose nude because I had done it in the past," she shared. "I was bullied."

“Many times, I was showed nude images of myself as examples to coerce me into posing nude, and whenever I stood my ground and refused, I was criticized and judged as being difficult,” she adds.

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Many other models have been speaking out about similar instances of pressuring on set. Model Cameron Russell has been using her Instagram to anonymously highlight women's stories of harassment and assault in the modeling industry.

Russell's efforts has not only amplified the voices of women in the industry, but the posts have also opened up a conversation about fair treatment throughout the entire industry. Russell says that sharing stories "is only the first step in a long process to make sexual harassment, assault, and violence unacceptable."

These posts — and the words of Sampiao — might only be the first steps toward a fairer industry, but they are certainly big and brave moves.

If you have experienced sexual assault, you can access 24/7 support at the National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or at hotline.rainn.org. You can also text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.