Victoria’s Secret 2025: A Runway Evolving
The 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Brooklyn marked a turning point: it combined traditional supermodels and legacy Angels with athletes, influencers, actresses, and first-time runway walkers. The message was clear—Victoria’s Secret is leaning into a broader definition of what an “Angel” can be.
Veteran names like Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Adriana Lima, Joan Smalls, Alessandra Ambrosio, Candice Swanepoel, and Anok Yai anchored the cast, alongside newer faces such as Precious Lee, Yumi Nu, and Alex Consani. (Elle) But the real spotlight went to personalities coming from outside classic modeling.
Gigi Hadid at the 2024 Victoria Secret show
Athletes on the Runway: Breaking Barriers
Perhaps the most talked-about inclusion was Angel Reese, the WNBA star, who became the first professional athlete to walk the Victoria’s Secret runway. She wore two pink lingerie ensembles and dramatic wings, and spoke of manifesting this moment publicly in the year prior. (People) She reportedly hired a modeling coach to nail her walk, treating runway prep with the same discipline as her athletic training. (NY Post)
Angel Reese
Joining her in the non-model category was Suni Lee, the Olympic gold medalist gymnast, making her runway debut. She appeared in the PINK segment, in shorts and crop top, and expressed excitement about stepping into fashion after her athletic career. (People)
These additions suggest Victoria’s Secret is leveraging cross-industry fame to expand its appeal—bringing fans from sports into the fashion viewer base.
Influencers, Actresses & First-Time Walkers
Another significant shift in 2025 was the inclusion of celebrities and digital creators. Barbie Ferreira, an actress known for Euphoria, walked the runway for the first time. Backstage she admitted walking a major runway—especially Victoria’s Secret—was beyond what she ever expected. (People)
Barbie Ferreira
Quenlin Blackwell, a TikTok influencer, also made her runway debut. She’s among the class of new “Angels” who come from digital-first fame rather than a traditional modeling background. (People via E! News)
Others making first runway appearances include Emily Ratajkowski, whose modeling and acting career has often focused elsewhere but now crosses into Victoria’s Secret territory. (Russh)
Also debuting are models who have yet to walk VS before, such as Adut Akech, Angelina Kendall, and Precious Lee. Lee’s inclusion in particular points to expanding body-diversity: she is a prominent curve model and has been breaking barriers at other major fashion houses. (Russh)
Quenlin Blackwell
How Do Non-Models Get Cast? A New Strategy for VS
Victoria’s Secret appears to be intentionally casting across industries now. Rather than just fashion scouts selecting models, the brand is nominating cultural figures who bring built-in audiences and brand stories. Athletes like Reese and Lee, influencers like Blackwell, and actresses like Ferreira have platforms, social reach, and their own narratives—all assets for a brand looking to stay culturally relevant.
In previous years, Victoria’s Secret rarely included non-models in the main runway segments; celebrity cameos or musical performances were more common. The 2025 show, by contrast, integrates non-models directly into the runway billing. That shift suggests that the brand now values the “story” behind the individual as much as conventional modeling credentials.
