If you’ve spent any time on TikTok in the last few years, you’ve definitely seen her. Emira D’Spain—or @xoxoemira to her million-plus followers—is basically the blueprint for the "C*nty Barbie" aesthetic. She’s loud, she’s glamorous, and she’s usually doing a 10-step skincare routine while telling a chaotic story about a date in NYC. But lately, people are digging into the emira d spain before and after archives, trying to piece together the journey of the woman who made history as Victoria’s Secret’s first Black transgender model.
The thing about Emira is that she didn't just wake up a supermodel. Her "before" wasn't some dark, hidden era; it was a grind. She was a "studious girlboss" (her words) at NYU, balancing a merit scholarship with a relentless climb in the editorial world. Honestly, the shift from a behind-the-scenes beauty director at Paper Magazine to a global face for brands like Fenty and NARS is as much about a career pivot as it is about her physical transition.
The Early Days in Dallas and Dubai
Emira was born in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, in 1996. Her background is a mix—an Eritrean mom and a Polish dad. They moved to the U.S. when she was three, bouncing around Kansas City and Tampa before finally landing in Dallas.
Growing up in Texas, she was a competitive dancer. That’s probably where she got that "main character" energy. She’s mentioned in interviews that her parents always knew she’d be a star; there’s literally childhood footage of her pretending to walk red carpets. She was homeschooled until she was 12, and when she finally hit a real classroom, she had no idea you had to ask to go to the bathroom. She just stood up and left. Iconic, even back then.
But the emira d spain before and after timeline really starts to solidify during her college years. She moved to New York for NYU, spent her freshman year in Paris (where she famously snuck into Fashion Week), and graduated magna cum laude with a marketing and communications degree. She wasn't an "overnight" influencer. She was an intern who worked her way up to becoming the Beauty Director of Paper Magazine by 2021.
The Name Change and Public Transition
For a long time, Emira was building her career while navigating her identity privately. It wasn't until October 2021 that she officially introduced her new name to the world through an article in Paper. She chose "Emira," a nod to the Arabic word "Amira," which means princess.
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She’s been very open about the fact that she didn’t want her entire platform to be about being trans. She wanted to be a beauty girl first. But she also realized that by just existing and being successful, she was providing representation that she never saw as a kid.
"I chose to build my platform that way because I didn't want to center my identity around being trans... it didn't feel authentic to my personality." — Emira D'Spain in a 2023 Mashable interview.
The physical "after" that many people search for includes her gender confirmation surgery, which she documented in early 2023. She spent six months debating whether to share it. Eventually, she decided that being transparent about the healing process—the good, the bad, and the painful—was better than pretending everything was just "magic."
Let’s Talk About the Procedures
People always want the "list." Emira is refreshingly honest about cosmetic work, which is rare in an industry full of people claiming they just "drink a lot of water." In a 2024 deep-dive with Byrdie, she laid it all out.
The Emira D'Spain Procedure List:
- Two Rhinoplasties: She’s been open about having work done on her nose to get the specific look she wanted.
- Gender Confirmation Surgery: This took place in early 2023 and was a major milestone in her personal journey.
- Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL): She worked with Dr. Ryan Neinstein in New York. The goal wasn't just "big," it was about body sculpting to help her feel more confident in lingerie shoots.
- Injectables: She started Botox at 19. She also uses Dysport for a brow lift because her eyebrows naturally sit lower.
- Fillers: She has filler in her cheeks and chin to elongate her face and create that heart shape. Interestingly, she actually had her lip filler dissolved a few years ago after an allergic reaction.
- Skin Tech: She’s a fan of microneedling (PRP) and "Evoke" skin tightening.
The difference in her emira d spain before and after photos isn't just about surgery, though. It’s about the "glow up" that comes with professional makeup skills. She’s never had formal training—it was all trial and error from watching her mom get ready.
Breaking the Victoria’s Secret Barrier
2022 was the year everything changed. Victoria’s Secret was in the middle of a massive rebrand after years of being criticized for a lack of diversity. They ditched the "Angels" and launched the VS Collective.
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Emira made history as the first Black trans woman to work with the brand. Her Valentine’s Day campaign, "Single Girl’s Guide," was a hit because it focused on self-love rather than seeking male validation. It was a full-circle moment for a girl who grew up watching the VS Fashion Show dreaming of being on that runway.
The Reality TV Pivot: Next Gen NYC
Fast forward to 2025/2026, and Emira is now a full-blown reality star. She joined the cast of Bravo’s Next Gen NYC, making history again as the network's first full-time transgender cast member.
The show follows a group of high-profile friends—including Gia Giudice and Brooks Marks—navigating life in the city. It’s messy. It’s glamorous. And it shows Emira in a new light. We’re seeing her handle drama with Brooks Marks and navigate her "dating era." It’s the "after" in its most realized form: a woman living her life out loud, beyond just a 60-second TikTok clip.
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Actionable Takeaways from Emira’s Journey
If you're looking at Emira’s evolution and wondering how she did it, it wasn't just luck. It was a very specific strategy:
- Prioritize Education/Skill First: She didn't quit her 9-to-5 until she had a major contract (Victoria's Secret) in hand. She used her editorial background to understand how the industry works from the inside.
- Radical Honesty Builds Trust: By being open about her surgeries and skin struggles (like her past battle with acne), she built a loyal community. People trust her product recommendations because she's honest about what’s "real" and what’s "purchased."
- Find Your "Hook": Her "XOXO Emira" and "Get Ready With Me" style was early to the game. She carved out a niche as the "bestie" who tells it like it is.
- Balance Identity with Art: She proved you can be a proud trans woman without making your transition your only talking point. She’s a model, an editor, and a comedian who happens to be trans.
Emira D'Spain's story is still being written. From her early days as a competitive dancer in Dallas to her current status as a Bravo star and fashion icon, her "after" isn't a final destination—it’s just the latest chapter in a very successful career.
To keep up with her latest procedures or products, she’s most active on TikTok and Instagram under @xoxoemira. Watching her "before" videos compared to her current content is a masterclass in how much confidence and a great "full beat" can change a person's life.