Emira D'Spain

Emira D'Spain (born October 8, 1996) is an American model, social media influencer and former beauty director. In 2022, she became the first Black transgender woman to model for Victoria's Secret. She has also been a cover girl for Glamour and was featured in Nylon. D'Spain has modeled for Fenty Beauty, UGG, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and NARS Cosmetics. She worked as the beauty director for Paper prior to the magazine's folding in 2023. D'Spain is a beauty content creator on TikTok, where she has over one million followers. On TikTok, she posts Get Ready With Me Videos, which have received over 85 million views.

Emira D'Spain
Born	(1996-10-08) October 8, 1996 (age 27) Sharjah, Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Other names	XOXOEMIRA
Alma mater	New York University
Occupations	Model TikToker
Modeling information
Height	5’11”
Hair color	Brown
Eye color	Brown
Agency	Collxab
TikTok information
Page	xoxoemira
Followers	1.3M
Likes	35.2M
Last updated: March 26, 2024

Early life and education

D'Spain was born on October 8, 1996, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates to an Eritrean mother and a Polish father.^[1][2][3] After living in Dubai for three years, her family emigrated to the United States.^[3] She lived in Kansas City and Tampa before her family settled in Dallas, Texas, where she attended a fine arts school.^[4][5] She grew up doing competition dance.^[6]

She attended New York University, first majoring in Global Liberal Studies before transferring to the university's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and Stern School of Business, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in marketing and communications.^[2] D'Spain also studied in Paris her freshman year of college.^[2][7]

Career

Prior to becoming a beauty influencer, D'Spain worked for a marketing agency and a beauty editorial.^[2] She is signed with Collxab, a New York-based marketing agnecy.^[8] She was featured on the cover of Galore Magazine as "TikTok's It-Girl".^[9] She also was featured in Nylon.^[10]

D'Spain has modelled and been in advertisements for NARS Cosmetics, Anastasia Beverly Hills, UGG, Fenty Beauty, and Google.^[9][11] She was the first black transgender woman to model for Victoria's Secret.^[12][13] Her first online partnership with Victoria's Secret was a TikTok video titled Single Girl's Guide to the Perfect Valentine's Day as part of their 2022 Valentine's Day campaign.^[11][14][15]

She is known as @XOXOEMIRA on TikTok, where she has over one million followers, and on Instagram, where she has over 100,000 followers.^[16][17] On her TikTok account, D'Spain posts Get Ready With Me videos, which have received over 85 million views. Prior to the magazine's folding in 2023, she had a Snapchat show called Snatchural with Paper.^[16][7] She also worked as the Beauty Director at Paper, creating beauty content for their website and social media platforms and curated their YouTube channel.^[9][18]

Personal life

D'Spain changed her given name to "Emira", after the Arabic word "Amira", meaning "princess".^[2] She underwent gender confirmation surgery.^[18][19] She has also had two rhinoplasty procedures.^[3]

She shared on The Conversational Podcast that she was sexually assaulted in Paris in 2018.^[6]

References

1. Ochiagha, Dominic-Madori Davis, Emeka. "A 25-year-old beauty influencer shares how she amassed 700,000 TikTok followers and signed her dream contract with Victoria's Secret". Business Insider.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
2. Reynozo, Shirley (July 29, 2022). "TikTok Glam Queen Emira D'spain Shares Beauty and Summer Tips for her Cunty Barbies". Galore.
3. "The Conversationalist Podcast: Emira D'Spain Opens Up About Being a Victoria's Secret Model and Being A Trans Woman | Exclusivez on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts.
4. Mitchell, Amanda. "Emira D'Spain Answers Your Most Burning Beauty Questions". www.refinery29.com.
5. "Why Model Emira D'Spain Decided to Document Her Gender Confirming Surgery". E! Online. March 31, 2023.
6. Beren, Sophie. "Emira D'Spain Opens Up About Being a Victoria's Secret Model and Being A Trans Woman". The Conversationalist Podcast. Apple Podcasts. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
7. "Emira D'Spain's rose-colored glasses are both a fashion accessory and a way of life". Mashable. March 31, 2023.
8. Harjai, Gargi (February 3, 2022). "Who is Emira D'Spain? All you need to know about Victoria's Secret's first black transgender model". www.sportskeeda.com.
9. "Emira D'Spain". Collxab.
10. "Meet Emira D'spain, The First Black Transgender Model To Work With Victoria's Secret". Nylon. March 7, 2022.
11. "Emira D'Spain Is The First Black Transgender Victoria's Secret Model". February 4, 2022.
12. "Emira D'Spain makes history as first Black transgender model to work with Victoria's Secret". USA TODAY.
13. "Emira D'Spain makes history as the first Black trans model to work with Victoria's Secret". GAY TIMES. February 6, 2022.
14. "Emira D'Spain Drops Her Skin Care Routine". Glamour. October 13, 2022.
15. "Emira D'Spain Is 1st Black Trans Model to Work With Victoria's Secret". www.out.com.
16. "Who is Emira D'spain? Everything You Need to Know About TikTok's Favorite Beauty Buff". Seventeen. February 2, 2022.
17. "Emira D'Spain makes history as Victoria Secret's first Black transgender model". The Independent. February 2, 2022.
18. "EXCLUSIVE: Emira D'Spain on How She's Healing Post-Gender Confirmation Surgery and Advice to Her 15 Year Old Self". Hypebae. 31 March 2023.
19. "EXCLUSIVE: Emira D'Spain on How She's Healing Post-Gender Confirmation Surgery and Advice to Her 15 Year Old Self". Yahoo Life. March 31, 2023.