Iowa Governor-elect Rob Sand confirmed on Thursday that he worked as a fashion model for Prada and other international labels while a student in the early 2000s. The acknowledgment came in response to a social media post by Vogue following Sand’s victory in the Iowa gubernatorial election held on Tuesday. Sand, who previously served as the Iowa state auditor, defeated Republican candidate Zach Lahn to win the office.
The details of Sand's former career resurfaced after a social media user shared a video of him from his modeling period. While a 2019 profile in The New York Times noted that Sand generally declined to discuss this history, his campaign confirmed to CBS News that he modeled in the early 2000s while in college. Sand also previously stated to Newsweek that his modeling work in Milan caused him to miss participating in the 2004 Iowa caucuses in his hometown of Decorah.
According to reporting from Vogue, Sand’s professional modeling portfolio included runway appearances for the Japanese label Number (N)ine and Giuliano Fujiwara in addition to Prada. He also appeared in editorial fashion spreads, such as a 2002 feature in AnOther Magazine titled "Adolescents." On Thursday, Sand’s verified Instagram account replied "Yes, I knew that" to Vogue’s inquiry about his past work, a comment that received more than 700 likes within 20 minutes.
The transition of a statewide official from a modeling background to the governorship follows his victory over Zach Lahn. As governor, Sand will move from his role as state auditor to the state's highest executive office. The disclosure of a governor-elect’s professional background has drawn attention from national outlets such as Vogue and The New York Times. The next steps for the Governor-elect involve the formal transition of power from the current administration. Future policy directions or legislative priorities for the upcoming term remain to be outlined by Sand's transition team as he prepares to take office.