News feed
It’s the one night of the year we all sit down on the sofa to enjoy the parade of incred-a-bodies while simultaneously eating candy canes and signing up to a personal trainer. This is the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The colour! The feathers! The beauty! The fierce struts from the most jaw-dropping models in the business. Its beginnings in 1995 were humble compared to where we are now: close to five million people watching each year in the US alone. It creates a buzz incomparable to any other fashion show and in turn translates to sales for the lingerie magnate that now amounts to around US$8billion annually. However, in light of the changing climate for female empowerment, we’re seeing a shift in fashion styles this year. Less sexy push-up bras and more comfy bralettes. A subtle nod to women’s clothing being for, well, women? And not for the adoration of men? Quite possibly. And quite refreshingly.
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is no stranger to controversy, having created almost as much conversation for their risqué choices over the years as they have for their shiny, covetable ensembles. Looking back across the shows of Christmas past, our reminiscing has taken us swirling past Tyra, Naomi, Heidi and even a baby-faced Gisele. Behati, Candice and Miranda. Shanina, Elsa and Jourdan. Such glorious, scantily-clad history that now dates over 23 years is worth a historical montage. Here are 20 of the most memorable things to happen on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway to date…
1. When Stephanie Seymour launched the very first show in 1995
23 years ago the Victoria’s secret show was an un-televised showcase for buyers and socialites in New York City before Valentine’s Day. Supermodel Stephanie Seymour was the face of the very first show which, at the time, was held at The Plaza, and was decidedly more conservative. By the following year, however, Seymour was sporting next-to-nothing lingerie ensembles and posing with her fellow supers…
2. When the OG supers made their debuts
They were baby-faced and dressed in the Victoria’s Secret lingerie looks of the moment (think a lot of satin, a lot of push-ups and a lot of full briefs). Here are the women as they were then, (and still are) – as iconic as hell. From left, Stephanie Seymour, Daniela Pestova, Karen Mulder, Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum.
3. When Gisele made her first ever Victoria’s Secret runway appearance
Gisele Bündchen was just 19 when she walked her first Victoria’s Secret runway in 1999. The fresh-faced beauty recently said in her memoir Lessons: My Path To A Meaningful Life that the contract from the lingerie made up a majority of her income at the time. And while she stayed with the business until 2006, she found her heart was no longer in it and parted ways. Her final angel wings look remains one of the best ever, in our opinion…
4. When Tyra Banks retired in 2005 after 9 years as an Angel
One of the originals, Tyra was always one of the most outspoken and “fierce” members of the VS model alumni. Defying the commonplace strut, pose, blow-kiss routine, for her final appearance in the 2005 show Banks walked with a powerful muscle-arm pose that was spine-tingling for everyone watching.
5. When Miranda Kerr became Australia’s first ever Angel in 2007
The brunette beauty made her Victoria’s Secret debut in 2006 and was the first Australian model to be offered a Victoria’s Secret contract. She then replaced Gisele as the first Australian Angel in 2007, following Bündchen’s retirement the year before. She walked until 2013 when the company cut ties with her following rumours she was “difficult” to work with.
6. When protesters stormed Gisele’s runway in 2002
Gisele bore the brunt of animal activists’ fury in 2002 when PETA protestors defied security to storm the Victoria’s Secret runway. In response to her recent signing with a fur company, this was an event the supermodel has since said completely changed her life and actually saw her become a head-strong champion activist herself.
7. When Heidi and Seal did that duet
They were the high-profile married couple who famously celebrated their nuptials annually and made family Halloween dressing a thing. Despite the marriage ending in 2014, Heidi Klum and Seal managed to squeeze in a touching? funny? – we’re still not sure what we were meant to feel – duet of their (actual real) song Wedding Day during the 2008 fashion show. Enjoy.
8. When Adriana and Alessandra made an extremely good case for US$2 million bras
The Victoria’s Secret “fantasy bra” has become a staple of the annual show, with the first worn by Heidi Klum in 1996. Each year a spectacular bra crafted by a contracted jeweller is encrusted with diamonds and crystals and worn by a selected Angel. Gisele’s 2005 fantasy bra remains in the Guinness Book of World Records for its US$15million price tag, while Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio took all of the breaths away when they co-wore fantasy bras in London in 2014. This year’s fantasy bra is by Swarovski and will be worn by Elsa Hosk.
9. When Justin Timberlake brought Sexy Back
In an act of perfect synergy, Justin Timberlake performed his mega-hit Sexy Back at the 2006 show. He also did LoveStoned. Nothing else to really say here, except watch it now to reignite your Timberlake love.
10. When Kendall Jenner traded reality TV for fashion TV
There was much backlash when it was announced that reality TV star Kendall Jenner would be taking to the Victoria’s Secret runway in 2015. Haters were forced to pipe down however, when the now supermodel, absolutely slayed the catwalk. She’s back again this year, alongside fellow It-Girls Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid.
11. When Taylor Swift became an honorary angel…and Had that beef with Jess Hart
At the height of her Trouble fame, Miss Swift performed her hit and strutted the runway alongside BFF’s Lily Aldridge and Karlie Kloss in 2013. Many said she looked just like an Angel herself. Unfortunately Aussie model Jess Hart (who modelled in the same show) disagreed and made a comment post-show about how Swift “Just didn’t seem to fit” with the show. Hmm. Not surprisingly the pop princess was asked to return the following year and she did, but with a stipulation that Hart not be asked back…
12. When the 2005 Angels went all Mean Girls
‘Santa Baby’-chic circa Cady Heron and Regina George made a VS runway appearance via Gisele, Karolina and Alessandra in 2005. Cue fluffy ugg boots and furry hoodies for all that Christmas.
13. When Destiny’s Child performed in 2002
Way back in 2002 the OG kweens performed an amped up version of the 12 Days Of Christmas. What a time…
14. When The Spice Girls Met The VS Girls
While we’re in the mood for girl group flash backs, how about the time The Spice Girls (all of them, including Posh!) banded together to perform their hit STOP! in 2007. And it definitely, absolutely is not lip-synced…
15. When Bella hadid walked as (then-ex boyfriend) The Weeknd performed
The scene was Paris, the year was 2016 and the situation was that Bella Hadid had recently split from partner The Weeknd, only to have him perform alongside her at her first ever Victoria’s Secret show. Like the consummate professional however, Hadid sashayed past her ex in all that thank-u-next glory. And he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. It’s no wonder they got back together.
16. When 2012 brought us both Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber on stage
Two of the biggest acts of the time (and still, really) Bruno and Justin smashed their performances in the same year. Bruno did a super slick rendition of Locked Out Of Heaven while a baby-faced Biebs, deep in his white fingerless gloves era, did As Long As You Love Me and Beauty And A Beat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfbJyJqrrFc&index=1&list=RDmfbJyJqrrFc
17. When Adam Levine kissed girlfriend Anne Vyalitsyna on stage…but then took up with Behati prinsloo a month later
It was a sweet moment between loved-up couple Adam Levine and Anne Vyalitsyna. When the Maroon 5 front man took his girlfriend’s hand and even gave her a peck on the cheek while rocking out to his solo hit Moves Like Jaggar. Slightly awkward in hindsight given the relationship ended a few months later and Levine swiftly moved on with Vyalitsyna’s V.S. co-star Behati Prinsloo. Whom he married and now has two children with.
18. When Elsa Hosk accidentally took out Ariana Grande in 2014
It was the momentary accident that would have been no big deal had the captured image not been so hilarious. It was the picture that sparked a thousand memes.
19. When Alessandra Ambrosio retired last year
At 36, and after nearly two decades with the lingerie juggernaut, Super Angel Alessandra Ambrosio decided to hang up her wings last year. Over her 17 shows she’s worn huge wings, walked while pregnant and inspired millions. She took to Instagram at the time to say “last night was so emotional to say goodbye to my angel sisters but we put on the biggest and best show ever.”
20. When the finale happens every year
Honestly, the girls could not be faking the amount of fun this show looks. Sure, they’ve had to train like hell to get there, but the moment they all link arms, dance about and blow all the kisses we can’t help but drink the Kool-Aid. Behati, Lily, Candice, Adriana…we want in.
All GIFS courtesy of GIPHY
