What Makes an Angel? Victoria Secret’s Runway Recap
From stunning new bombshells to mesmerizing musical acts, it’s clear that Victoria’s Secret is on a journey of reinvention. The brand, most iconically known for its “skinny legends”, had introduced a new wave of diverse models on their runway. With their recent show streamed to millions this October, let’s take a look at some of the steps VS is taking to enter their fresh, new era.
The show lights went on, and we got our first glimpse of our beloved angel- a VS veteran, and model, Jasmine Tookes strutting down the runway debuting a baby-bump. Walking the show during the peak of her pregnancy introduced a new look to being sexy. Jasmine Tookes is “The Birth of Venus”! Pregnancy is becoming more exquisite and in-trend than ever, so the show directors couldn’t help but hop on-board. Embracing the glow and beauty that comes with pregnancy, Jasmine Tookes showed off her baby-bump in a brown (almost nude) lingerie set, along with wings resembling a pearl clam shell.
Another first from #VS2025 were the appearances of Angel Reese and Suni Lee, both established athletes- the former, a WNBA forward, and latter, an Olympic Gold medalist, bringing a sporty, yet fun flair to the runway. As history reveals, sports and femininity were mutually-exclusive concepts, but that’s all swept in the past as these two stars show their competitive edge during the PINK section of the broadcast. It’s safe to say they won gold with their iconic runway walks, and Angel even got to debut her own wings- how fitting!
Body diversity is a continuously growing concept for the brand. This year, Ashley Graham, a supermodel known to also act as a role model to plus-sized women worldwide took her place on the catwalk yet again, looking radiant as ever. Showcasing other beauties like Paloma Elsesser, Emeline Hoareau, and Precious Lee, VS knows how to represent big-girl bodies and highlight their beautiful curves as they step into the spotlight.
The original angels, beloved by all, made their return as usual. Supermodels like Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, the Hadid sisters (Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid), Irina Shayk, and more took the stage, bridging the gap with the old VS. The inclusion of the original VS angels was a much-needed nod to preserving the 2000s-2010s runway concept we all hold close to our heart.
Diversity took to the musical performances as they showcased artists from different parts of the world which attracted a large variety of audiences. From Rap to K-Pop, these performances brought on bounds of excitement from fans and really took the stage by storm. KAROL G, Madison Beer, Missy Elliott, and TWICE all provided show-stopping performances and had their own segments during the livestream. These performances helped VS catapult into a global market where they could reach a wide-range of consumers watching. Madison Beer not only vocally dominated the show but even walked as a model in the end of her performance, proving herself as a force to be reckoned with. TWICE was another pleasant surprise as K-Pop fans ate up every second of their act. By including artists who appeal to the newer generation, as well as those more popular to Millenials and above, the lingerie brand has proved it is staying up to date on all of pop-culture's newest sensations, and making sure every generation is entertained.
Speaking of pop-culture sensations, Quen Blackwell, a YouTuber and online personality, stole the stage with her unique charm. Known for her comedic and wild personality on the internet, she puts forward a new perspective to the VS ethos. She shows wings aren’t just made for the dainty as she radiated girl-boss energy in every strut she took during the PINK runway. From her start on vine, posting unfiltered and hilarious videos, to walking the runway, Quen represents the true duality and range womanhood provides.
By the end of the show, we were all left with the question, “what really makes an angel?” I think I figured out Victoria’s Secret: anybody can wear the wings as long as you have the confidence to put them on.