Emira D’Spain is a polymath in both the beauty and fashion spaces, famous for being a trailblazing model, beauty director, and social media content creator. She was born on October 8, 1996, in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates. Her story is one of perseverance, reality, and the strength of representation.
Early Life and Education
Emira spent her early childhood in Dubai before her family moved to the United States, settling finally in Dallas, Texas. She attended a fine arts academy there and developed a keen interest in dance. Emira went on to university at New York University, first taking a degree in Global Liberal Studies before switching to the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and the Stern School of Business. She graduated magna cum laude from college with a marketing and communications degree, and also attended Paris during her first year of college.
Career Highlights
Emira’s career started in marketing and editorial beauty positions. She became well known as the beauty director of Paper magazine, where she edited beauty content and ran the publication’s YouTube channel until its shut down in 2023.
Her moment of triumph in the fashion world happened in 2022 when she was the first Black transgender woman to pose for Victoria’s Secret. This achievement was a big step towards equality in the fashion world.
Emira’s career as a model is marked with partnerships with top brands like Fenty Beauty, UGG, Anastasia Beverly Hills, NARS Cosmetics, and Covergirl. She has appeared in magazines such as Glamour and Nylon, further enhancing her position as one of the industry’s top dogs.
Digital Influence
As a TikTok content creator, Emira has gained a large number of followers on the platform, sharing beauty tips, fashion advice, and personal content. She goes by the username @xoxoemira and has more than 1.4 million followers, having earned over 40 million likes on her videos.
In 2025, Emira branched out further by becoming a cast member on Bravo’s reality show Next Gen NYC, breaking history as the network’s first full-time transgender cast member. The series gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at her life, including as a model and influencer.
Recognition and Advocacy
Emira’s work in the beauty industry was acknowledged in 2022 when she was awarded at the Byrdie Beauty Awards for her contribution and impact in beauty.
Her fight for representation and inclusivity continues to inspire a great number of people, as she employs her platform to defy industry standards and champion diversity.
Emira D’Spain’s journey is an inspirational story of barrier-breaking and challenging beauty standards. In her work, she inspires others to be true to themselves and advocate for the world to be a more accepting place.