By admin 
The 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show marked a historic milestone on Sunday as the world-renowned lingerie event returned to Los Angeles for the first time in nearly two decades. Held at the Sony Studios in Culver City, California, the production signaled a definitive shift in the brand’s creative direction, blending high-octane glamour with a roster of international supermodels, emerging digital stars, and seasoned veterans. The evening’s centerpiece was the runway debut of reality television icon and entrepreneur Kylie Jenner, who donned the most expensive garment in the show’s history: a gemstone-encrusted Fantasy Bra valued at $50 million.
Jenner’s appearance served as the focal point of the night, drawing significant media attention and highlighting the brand’s strategy of merging traditional modeling with massive social media influence. The 29-year-old took to the runway in a sheer mini skirt and towering white wings, supported from the front row by her boyfriend, actor Timothée Chalamet, and her mother, Kris Jenner. The debut comes at a time when Victoria’s Secret is aggressively seeking to reclaim its dominant position in the global intimate apparel market, which is projected to reach over $90 billion by 2028.
A Night of High-Fashion Spectacle and Veteran Returns
The 2026 show was structured as a multi-act performance, blending the "bombshell" aesthetic of the early 2000s with modern production values. The runway action commenced with Bella Hadid, 30, who set the tone in a multicolored embellished bra and an ombre sheer green mini skirt that trailed behind her. She was followed shortly by her sister, Gigi Hadid, 31, who appeared in a metallic silver top and pink-and-blue lingerie, accented by a pair of silver wings featuring intricate fringe detailing.
The event also prioritized the return of the brand’s most recognizable "Angels." Adriana Lima, 45, who holds the record as the longest-serving model for the brand, showcased a lime lace bodysuit, demonstrating the company’s commitment to its legacy stars. Similarly, Alessandra Ambrosio, 45, received a standing ovation as she walked in a pink ensemble, culminating her walk with her signature "blown kiss" to the audience.
Other notable appearances included:
- Barbara Palvin (33): Returning to the catwalk just six weeks after the birth of her first child with husband Dylan Sprouse, Palvin wore a sheer pink slip dress.
- Elsa Hosk (37): The Swedish model wore a structured pink corset with dramatic, flowing sleeves.
- Candice Swanepoel (37): A long-time staple of the brand, the South African model appeared in a high-cut pink bodysuit.
- Ashley Graham (38): Representing the brand’s continued, albeit recalibrated, inclusion of diverse body types, Graham wore whimsical floral wings and a pink bodysuit.
- Vittoria Ceretti (28): Known for her high-fashion pedigree, Ceretti walked in dramatic earth-toned wings.
Musical Performances and Multimedia Integration
The production values of the 2026 show reflected a significant investment in entertainment. The musical lineup featured a diverse array of performers, including Megan Thee Stallion, the global girl group Katseye, country singer Megan Moroney, and pop star Tate McRae. McRae’s performance was particularly notable, as she appeared in red lingerie accompanied by a troupe of backup dancers, blurring the lines between a concert and a fashion presentation.
The show opened with a high-definition teaser video featuring Gisele Bündchen, 46. While Bündchen did not walk the physical runway, her presence in the digital introduction served as a bridge to the brand’s "Golden Era" of the mid-2000s. Additionally, the event served as the finale for the brand’s YouTube streaming series, Angels Among Us. The winner of the digital talent search made their runway debut as the newest Victoria’s Secret Angel, a move designed to engage younger, digitally native audiences who consume fashion content primarily through social media platforms.
Backstage Narratives and Social Media Speculation
As with any event of this magnitude, the happenings backstage garnered nearly as much attention as the runway itself. Gigi Hadid sparked significant social media speculation after being photographed wearing a gold band on her ring finger while in the makeup chair. The imagery added fuel to long-standing rumors regarding a secret marriage to partner Bradley Cooper.
The backstage area also highlighted the intersection of different eras of modeling. Irina Shayk, 40, who shares a daughter with Cooper, was seen preparing alongside the Hadid sisters. Other high-profile attendees and participants included Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 39, Abby Champion, and Iris Law, 25. Natalia Bryant, daughter of the late Kobe Bryant, was also documented during the preparation phase, signaling the brand’s continued interest in "nepo-talent" and legacy families.
The Casting Controversy and Model Rejections
Despite the festive atmosphere, the 2026 show was not without its share of controversy. In the weeks leading up to the event, several former Angels and high-profile models revealed they had been rejected during the casting process. Romee Strijd, 31, a fan favorite who walked for the brand between 2014 and 2018, posted a tearful update to her TikTok followers after being told she "wouldn’t fit in the show this year."
Strijd’s revelation prompted a wave of backlash from fans, many of whom argued that the rejection of veteran models who had spent months training for the event was "unprofessional." Fellow model Frida Aasen, 31, also confirmed she had been turned down. These rejections highlight the rigorous and often opaque selection criteria used by Victoria’s Secret as it attempts to balance nostalgia with a refreshed brand image.
Historical Context: From 1995 to the "Unapologetically Sexy" Pivot
To understand the significance of the 2026 show, it is necessary to look at the brand’s turbulent history over the last decade. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debuted in 1995 and grew into a global phenomenon, peaking in the mid-2000s with millions of television viewers. However, by 2019, the show was canceled following declining ratings and intense criticism regarding a lack of diversity and the exclusionary comments made by former executives.
The brand attempted a "woke" rebrand in the early 2020s, replacing the "Angels" with the "VS Collective," a group of women chosen for their achievements rather than their physical appearance. While this move was praised by some activists, it coincided with a period of struggling sales and a perceived loss of brand identity. In 2024, the show returned with a focus on diversity, featuring transgender and plus-size models more prominently than ever before.
By 2025, under the leadership of new CEO Hillary Super, the company announced a pivot back to its "unapologetically sexy" roots. This strategic shift was a response to market data suggesting that while consumers valued inclusivity, they also missed the aspirational glamour and "fantasy" elements of the original show. The 2026 Los Angeles event is the clearest manifestation of this "New Bombshell" era—a blend of the high-glamour aesthetics of the past with the social media integration of the present.
Economic Implications and the Future of the Brand
The decision to return to Los Angeles—a city synonymous with celebrity culture—is a calculated business move. By positioning Kylie Jenner as the face of the $50 million Fantasy Bra, Victoria’s Secret is leveraging the "Kardashian effect" to drive sales across its more accessible product lines. Market analysts suggest that for every high-value spectacle like the Fantasy Bra, the brand sees a correlated uptick in the sales of its core lingerie and beauty collections.
However, the brand faces stiff competition from "disruptor" labels such as Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty and Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS, which have successfully captured the market share by prioritizing size inclusivity and modern marketing. The 2026 show serves as Victoria’s Secret’s attempt to prove that it can still define the "standard" of sexy in a fragmented market.
The success of this year’s show will likely be measured not just in viewership numbers, but in its ability to rehabilitate the brand’s image as a leader in fashion entertainment. By combining the star power of the Jenners and Hadids with the nostalgic appeal of Lima and Ambrosio, Victoria’s Secret is betting that the public’s appetite for high-gloss, aspirational spectacle remains as strong as ever. As the company moves toward 2027, the focus will remain on whether this "unapologetically sexy" approach can translate into sustained fiscal growth and cultural relevance in an era of rapidly shifting social values.
