Angel Reese Makes History as the First Pro Athlete in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

WNBA player Angel Reese made history on Wednesday as the first professional athlete to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. This appearance comes as the lingerie brand undergoes a significant rebranding after facing years of commercial decline.

The 23-year-old forward for the Chicago Sky shared the runway with renowned supermodels, including Bella and Gigi Hadid, alongside former “Angels” such as Adriana Lima. The runway showcased a diverse array of models, including transgender, pregnant, and plus-size representatives, aligning with the brand’s refreshed vision.

The 2024 show marked the return of the annual event after a six-year hiatus. Backstage, Reese expressed her excitement, describing the moment as something she had “manifested” since attending the previous year’s show. “I posted on my (Instagram) Story last year, when I was here at the show watching front row. I said, ‘I’m gonna be a Victoria’s Secret model one day,’” she recalled. “I didn’t know it was gonna come this fast,” she added.

Once a staple event in American television, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show faced criticism for promoting narrow beauty standards. Viewership sharply declined from 9.7 million in 2013 to 3.3 million in 2018 before the show was canceled in 2019. Historically recognized for its use of slim White models, the brand is now taking steps toward inclusivity, culminating in a runway that opened with nine-month-pregnant model Jasmine Tookes, who wore a striking gold macrame dress.

Pregnant model Jasmine Tookes opened the runway show.

Other notable appearances included plus-size models Paloma Elsesser, Ashley Graham, and Yumi Nu. Alex Consani, who broke ground as one of the first transgender models featured in the show, was also present. Olympic gymnast Sunisa Lee participated in a “halftime show” for Pink, a sub-brand of Victoria’s Secret aimed at younger audiences.

“Everybody looks different, but they’re all beautiful,” Reese told reporters prior to the show. The athlete emphasized the importance of inclusivity, stating, “(That’s) the inclusivity of being a Victoria’s Secret model and knowing that you can look beautiful in many different shades, sizes, lengths, heights — tall, short — you can be here.”

Reese’s milestone moment resulted from discussions with Victoria’s Secret CEO Hillary Super, who has been tasked with revitalizing the brand’s fortunes. “She really told me… ‘You can be here. You’re an athlete, you have the body and you look amazing, and you’re really, really confident,’” Reese recounted.

Angel Reese walked the runway wearing two different looks.

Bella Hadid made her fifth appearance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, having debuted in 2016.

Super’s tenure began in August 2024, shortly before a modest revenue increase of 1% to $6.23 billion the following year. This growth followed a decade of declining sales and store closures, compounded by fierce competition from brands focusing on comfort and inclusivity.

Victoria’s Secret was once responsible for nearly two-thirds of parent company L Brands’ revenue, valued at $28 billion in 2015. By 2020, the brand had been taken private, with a valuation of just $1.1 billion. Since then, the company has sought to reposition itself by collaborating with a more diverse array of celebrities. The launch of the VS Collective, a group of ambassadors dedicated to promoting gender equality and body positivity, occurred before the show’s comeback.

Models walk the runway together at the end of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York.

Reese stands out as the only athlete to walk the runway, alongside celebrities like soccer player Megan Rapinoe and Olympic skier Eileen Gu. “A lot of young women are going to be watching me today to know that they have some inspiration and know that they can dream this big,” she said.

Despite featuring returning icons like Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio, the show embraced new talent, including former “Euphoria” actor Barbie Ferreira and YouTuber Quenlin Blackwell. Musical performances from Missy Elliott and Karol G contributed to a night that balanced nostalgia with a fresh perspective on fashion.

“I’m not going to shy away from looking like this, because I work my ass off for this body,” Reese declared. “Being sexy is just something that I love and always embrace.”