The “angels” of Victoria’s Secret descended on the runway Tuesday at the lingerie brand’s Fashion Show, marking the return of the once-famed event, which had gone on yearslong hiatus following controversy.
The show, which was livestreamed on social media and on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube, featured a handful of familiar faces, including Tyra Banks, Kate Moss, the Hadid sisters and Adriana Lima. Wearing variations of the brand’s signature wings, the models walked down the aisle to live performances by Cher, Tyla and Lisa.
The roughly hour-long event followed a format similar to that of years past. But for the first time, there was an all-female lineup of performers. The 50 models, who were from 25 countries, also ranged in age, body size and background.
Having canceled the show in 2019 amid declining ratings and a swirl of controversy, Victoria’s Secret said that with this year’s show it aimed to “reflect who we are today” as a brand. In its most recent values statement, it says it aims to represent “all women.”
This year’s show “spans the spectrum, and everybody’s welcome,” executive producer Janie Schaffer said on a livestream of the pink carpet before the event’s kickoff. “We cast everybody for their confidence and their fierceness, and I think that’s what’s going to shine through.”
Celebrities showed up in droves to catch the show, which came on the heels of a more muted celebration last year during the brand’s revamped, partially revived filmed version of the event that was streamed on Prime Video.
Here are some highlights from the 2024 event.
Cher headlines all-women lineup of performers
K-pop star Lisa, South African singer Tyla and the pop legend Cher rocked the runway throughout the evening, singing some of their most popular hits.
Lisa was the first to perform, opening the show with a crew of backup dancers as she sang a high-energy rendition of her hit single “Rockstar.” She later returned onstage in intricate gold wings to perform “Moonlit Floor.”
Tyla, in feathery white wings, also took the stage to perform “PUSH 2 START” and “Water” as the models walked beside her.
In a dramatic finale, a choir provided the intro vocals for Cher, whose name flashed in lights behind the runway during the performance. Emerging from a cloud of white smoke, she performed her hits “Strong Enough” and “Believe” as a final round of models entered the runway.
Before the show kicked off, Cher said on the pink carpet that she was “most excited” about the all-female music lineup.
“I’m proud that women are finally being able in many ways — not in all ways but in some ways — to just find their own destiny,” she said.
The Hadid sisters and Adriana Lima wear their wings once more
After Lisa’s opening performance, Gigi Hadid was the first to take the runway — setting a baby pink color theme as she blew a kiss to the audience in her silk romper and giant feathered angel wings.
Many online noted that Gigi appeared to pay an homage to one of her BFFs, Taylor Swift, by waving to the audience the same way Swift did every night of the Eras Tour.
Meanwhile, Gigi’s sister Bella Hadid blew her own kiss to the audience as she closed the show in vibrant red, wearing a billowing feathered robe over a matching lingerie set.
The Hadid sisters have been fan favorites at the VS Fashion shows since they became recurring faces on the runway in the mid-2010s.
And Lima, one of the best-known Angels in Victoria’s Secret history, returned to the runway at 43 after having retired at the company’s last fashion show in 2018. Lima, who became a VS Angel in 2000, wore iridescent butterfly wings in metallic shades of pink.
Other former Angels who returned Tuesday included: Jasmine Tookes, Behati Prinsloo, Barbara Palvin, Taylor Hill and Candice Swanepoel.
Some of the industry’s most iconic supermodels return
Global supermodel Ashley Graham, 36, made her VS Fashion show debut this year in a lace black bodysuit and wings adorned with sparkly gold petals. She said in a video this week that she accepted the offer with the goal of helping everyone “feel seen” on the show.
“I am over the moon excited because I’m in my late 30s, I just had three children, and I am feeling so curvy and so sexy, and my outfit is fire,” Graham said, adding, “I’m most excited about representing so many curvy women of all shapes and sizes on the runway.”
Kate Moss, 50, also made a surprise appearance when she strutted onstage to “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll,” wearing a sheer lace black gown and a puff of black wings.
Claudia Schiffer, who walked in her first and only VS Fashion Show in 1997, returned to the VS stage this year in a sheer black ensemble. Schiffer,, 54, was the first to wear the company’s diamond-encrusted Fantasy Bra in 1996.
Longtime model Carla Bruni, also a singer and the former first lady of France, walked her first VS Fashion Show this year at 56. She strutted down the runway in a black corset and heart-shaped wings framed with a beaded fringe.
The show closed with Banks, who led a pack of the night’s models down the runway as pink confetti rained down onstage. Strutting in her geometric black jumpsuit as she twirled her flowing metallic cape, Banks, the former longtime host of “America’s Next Top Model,” made her return to the fashion show runway after nearly 20 years.
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