Meredith Lee Staff Writer

For 31 years, Victoria’s Secret has been putting on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (VSFS), featuring big hair and even bigger Angel wings. This year’s show marked the return of the iconic Fantasy Bra after the show went on a hiatus from 2019–23. The hiatus was due to multiple reasons, the most notable being criticism surrounding beauty standards. Since its return, there has been a conscious effort to diversify the models chosen to participate in terms of race, gender, and body type. Of course, the show did not stray far from its original aesthetic, featuring many iconic longtime Angels, including Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio, as well as fan favourites Bella Hadid and Elsa Hosk.

This year’s Fantasy Bra, worn by Kylie Jenner, is valued at roughly US$50 million (approximately C$69.94 million) (DeMarco, 2026). Jenner’s runway appearance sparked controversy in its own right, as people commented on her reported cosmetic procedures. Some critics argue that her appearance reinforces unrealistic beauty standards, while others view her selection as disrespectful to models who worked hard to earn their place on the runway. Either way, viewers and critics alike note that it is the first time in the history of the VSFS that a celebrity, rather than a model, has worn the Fantasy Bra. The bra has historically been an honour reserved for established Angels as a celebration of their contributions to the company and the show.

The 2024 show, the first after the hiatus, marked many changes, including the first transgender and plus-size models to walk in the show.

Models Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio share the title of being the first transgender models to walk the VSFS runway, while Paloma Elsesser and Ashley Graham became the first plus-size models to sport Angel wings on the runway. The 2026 show is by far the most racially diverse show the brand has ever hosted, featuring over 10 Black models and over five East and South Asian models.

The diversification of the Angels has sparked controversy, with some people saying that it cheapens the show and glamourizes unhealthy bodies, whereas others argue that it sets a more realistic standard for viewers.

The most recent VSFS cast displays a wide range of beautiful women of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds while still maintaining the aspirational aesthetic of the show. The goal of the VSFS is not to showcase the everyday person, so it is expected that the women strutting down the runway have an unattainable level of beauty, which is why the models are called Angels. While this title denotes a high standard of beauty, which is still subjective, it does not imply a specific skin colour or weight. The 2026 show proves that Angels do not require abs of steel or sandy blonde hair. Ultimately, what makes a model an Angel is her aura.