Victoria’s Secret Angels Spread Their Wings In Latest Show

By DEBI OKEKE/Staff Writer

Since its launch in 1995, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has remained a staple of the fashion and modeling industry. It’s known for extravagant runway productions, star-studded performances, and famous ‘Angels’ who defined 2000s and early 2010s pop culture. However, in recent years, it has faced criticism for its lack of inclusivity and outdated beauty standards, leading to its eventual cancellation in 2019.

Golden Rebirth

The first section of the show featured models in a bronze and gold palette, wearing flowy dresses, copper wings, and ethereal headpieces. One of the original Angels, Jasmine Tookes, opened up the show in a beautiful oyster-inspired look with her nine-month pregnant baby bump serving as the pearl.

Next came appearances from several original Angels including Adriana Lima, Doutzen Kroes, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Joan Smalls, who strutted down in shimmering bodysuits and mini dresses with shining gold winged accessories.

Barbara Palvin swept the stage in a beautiful, backless nude-colored gown with bits of lingerie peeking out. Angels donned extravagant head and backpieces that radiated like the sun, with golden spikes fanning outward, resembling rays of light. The audience whooped and cheered with each new look, captivated and under the spell of the show already. Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” filled the air, and the stage was lit in gleaming colors and soft orange beams as the light hit and bounced from the hundreds of diamonds and beads of model Candice Swanepoel’s lingerie set.

Floral Cabaret

As Swanepoel exited the stage, the golden gleam dimmed and made way for a bright pink ring shining around the first performer, Madison Beer. As she began her set, Gigi Hadid stepped out in an all-pink cami lingerie set with a grand flower-petaled robe trailing behind. A series of burlesque-inspired looks entered the runway on Angels Anok Yai, Precious Lee, Devyn Garcia, Awar Odhiang, Iman Hammam, and Irina Shayk in a truly glamorous spectacle. Beer sang her hit songs “Make You Mine” and “Yes Baby” as she performed in a cabaret-style act featuring dancers with pink feathers and Fosse choreography. Pink feathered headdresses, fringe wings and pearl embellishments perfectly capture the life of a Victoria’s Secret showgirl.

WNBA superstar Angel Reese made her runway debut sporting a two-piece ensemble and plush shawl, all adorned in soft, pink roses.

“I would always watch the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and always dream that I, one day, could possibly be a model,” Reese said in an interview with Vogue.

Ending this section of the show, Beer did her own model walk down the runway and kissed the audience goodbye, making way for the next performers.

Class of PINK

Nayeon, Momo, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu of K-pop group TWICE stepped onto the stage as the stadium lights flared and the stage lit up. Looks from PINK, a Victoria’s Secret sub-brand aimed at teens and younger adults, took the stage on models Gabriela Moura and Daniella Halfon. This set of clothes was more laid back, replacing the more risque looks with casual shorts, skirts and

sweatpants. This gave the show a younger feel, with knee-high tube socks and denim making an appearance on models like Quen Blakckwell, Iris Law, Barbie Ferreira, Lila Moss, Ashlyn Erickson, and Yoon Young Bae.

Olympic gymnast Suni Lee was another athlete who made her debut at this year’s show. The gold-medalist walked the runway in shorts, a pink hoodie and miniature wings. She, along with Reese, made history as the first major athletes to ever walk in a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

Scarlet Hour

The runway fills with blood red as Karol G emerges from the shadows, every step radiating fire and seduction. Bella Hadid appears in a silky red lingerie set, the wind blowing through her cape. Next, Alex Consani, who was awarded Model of the Year at the 2024 Fashion Awards, walked up in a similar set but with silky pants and shiny red wings. A range of mini dresses and sequins were worn on the stage as seen on Amelia Gray, Yasmin Wijnaldum, Joan Smalls, Stella Maxwell and Adut Akech.

In an interview with Fashionista, Consani says, “I feel like we are able to have a lot of fun for these kinds of shows.” She continues, “It’s also much about girlhood and supporting each other and loving each other.”

Fairytopia

Britney Spears’ “Toxic” began playing, and all of a sudden, we saw more beachy and bedazzled looks hit the runway. The Angels shimmered in a Barbie-inspired mermaid-fairy look that added a refreshing twist to the show with gemstone bras, crystal fairy wings, and flowy silhouettes gracing the runway. Emily Ratajkowski bloomed in a giant petal-shaped cape, and Awar Odhiang fluttered through in a shiny butterfly bralette as “Never Leave You” by Lumidee played.

Every detail glistened under the lights, from the iridescent fabrics to the glitter heels wrapping around each Angel. This section radiated a carefree, summer allure that stood out among the night’s bolder moments.

Finale

Ashley Graham, Paloma Elesser, Anok Yai, Alex Consani, Liu Wen and Alessandra Ambrosio brought back a traditional style with shiny silver looks. The lacy black lingerie contrasted beautifully with the silver tones and added a vintage touch, channeling the brand’s iconic appeal.

The final wings of the night from Gigi Hadid and Adriana Lima were very underwhelming and looked difficult to walk in. Alessandra Ambrosio’s, however, were unique and elegant, mimicking the shape of a masquerade mask. Bella Hadid closed the show in a silver fringe flapper-esque look with 50-pound white, flowery wings.

Closing the night, Grammy Award–winning, platinum-selling icon Missy Elliott brought the show on an electrifying high. The energy, production and performance levels were out of this world, performing hits like “Work It” and “Lose Control”. She had both the audience and the Angels on their feet and buzzing with excitement as they walked down the runway for the final time.

Conclusion

The 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show may not have recaptured all the magic of its glory days, but it marked a bold step toward redefining what beauty, confidence and femininity look like today. It nicely blended the ethereal expectations with a wider and more diverse range of models, expanding the idea of what an Angel can look like.

The full show is available on YouTube, check it out.

The Angels may have changed, but the fantasy and magic shine through.