Image: (Left to Right) Alessandra Ambrosio, Karolina Kurkova, Gisele Bundchen, Adriana Lima
Since the inception of its runway show in 1995, Victoria’s Secret has been the launching pad of many famous faces’ careers such as Stephanie Seymour, Gisele Budchen and Hedi Klum. These girls endorse top products and some even become household names in the process. To be named an Angel serves as a career highlight. But what exactly is an Angel?
These models sign a lucrative contract with the lingerie brand to have top billing at its annual Fashion Show as well as appear in campaigns. Becoming an Angel helps models land lucrative campaigns with other brands as well as launch some to household names.
With the recent crossover of VS girls from commercial stardom to high fashion luxe, we thought we would round-up some of the brand’s most desirable faces throughout the years. Check out our WTF list of the memorable Victoria’s Secret models below in no particular order…
(Updated again on 18 August, 2017, with two more VS angels – Jasmine Tookes and Taylor Hill)
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Image: Candice Swanepoel at 2010 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
No.1 – Candice Swanepoel
Named a Victoria’s Secret angel in 2010, this South African beauty is currently one of the most popular Angels, covering the swim catalogue three years in a row. The blonde is not just a swimsuit babe though; Candice Swanepoel has gone on to work with some of the industry’s top photographers such as Steven Meisel, Mert & Marcus and Terry Richardson. She has appeared on covers for Vogue Australia, Vogue Italia and Vogue Japan.
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Image: Alessandra Ambrosio at 2009 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
No.2 – Alessandra Ambrosio
Brazilian bombshell Alessandra Ambrosio was chosen as a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2004. She was the first face of Victoria’s Secret’s PINK line which is aimed at the younger set. The model has also worked with high fashion brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Armani Exchange and Ralph Lauren and is the mother of two children.
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Image: Adriana Lima at 2010 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
No.3 – Adriana Lima
Another Brazilian stunner, Adriana Lima, has been an Angel with Victoria’s Secret since 2000. The beauty has worked with some of the industry’s leading photographers including Mert & Marcus, Ellen von Unwerth and Terry Richardson. Campaigns for the beauty include Miu Miu, Givenchy and Blumarine.
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Image: Helena Christensen at 1995 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
No.4 – Helena Christensen
The smouldering Danish beauty Helena Christensen was one of the original Victoria’s Secret Angels appearing in tv spots during the 1990s. She appeared in catalogue work and advertisements for the brand as well. Outside of fashion, she is most well-known for appearing in a music video for Chris Isaak’s song, “Wicked Game”. Her recent covers include Vogue Spain, Elle Brazil and Elle Spain.
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Image: Gisele Bundchen at 2005 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
No.5 – Gisele Bundchen
The supermodel walked the Victoria’s Secret runway for many years, but left the brand in 2009. She was one of the most popular Angels to date and arguably one of the few supermodels to come out of the last decade. Gisele Bundchen has gone on to appear in campaigns for Chanel, Roberto Cavalli and Versace. The mom of two and wife to American football star Tom Brady was ranked #95 on Forbes’s Power Women list. Her business ventures include a beauty, lingerie and clothing line.
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Image: Miranda Kerr at 2009 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
No.6 – Miranda Kerr
Miranda Kerr worked as a Victoria’s Secret Angel from 2007 to 2013. Since leaving the brand, this Australian beauty fronted campaigns for Prada, Reebok, Jil Sander and Mango. Miranda’s covers include titles such as Vogue Italia, GQ UK and Elle US. Kerr started a beauty brand named Kora Organics which features all natural products.
The brunette married Snapchat co-founder Evan Spiegel in 2017.
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Image: Heidi Klum at 2009 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
No.7 – Heidi Klum
Before becoming a television fixture on shows such as “Project Runway” and “America’s Got Talent”, German beauty Heidi Klum appeared on the Victoria’s Secret catwalk. Klum was named an angel in 1997 and had an impressive thirteen year run until she retired from the catwalk in 2010. Now, she is more well-known for her business ventures than modelling and ranked #39 on Forbes’ Power Women list in 2011.
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Image: Behati Prinsloo at 2008 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
No.8 – Behati Prinsloo
The Namibian beauty became the face of Pink in 2008, and then was named a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2009. She is currently engaged to frontman of Maroon 5, Adam Levine. At 24-years old, Behati Prinsloo has appeared in campaigns for brands like H&M, Chanel, Nina Ricci and Marc by Marc Jacobs. Her covers include Vogue Russia, Elle France and i-D.
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Image: Doutzen Kroes at 2008 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
No.9 – Doutzen Kroes
Doutzen Kroes first started her career in high fashion, fronting campaigns for brands like Versace, Valentino and Gucci. The Dutch beauty began her work with Victoria’s Secret in 2004 and was named an Angel in 2008. Doutzen has appeared on multiple Vogue covers including the German, Parisian and Italian editions. The face of L’Oreal is also married and a mother.
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Image: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at 2010 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
No.10 – Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
This British beauty started working for the lingerie brand in 2006. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was named a Victoria’s Secret angel in 2009. Rosie has gone on to star in campaigns for Burberry and cover fashion glossies such as Vogue UK, Vogue Spain and Glamour, and appeared in a “Transformers” film. She has a role in the upcoming “Mad Max: Fury Road” movie and is currently dating actor Jason Statham.
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Image: Tyra Banks at 2002 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
No.11 – Tyra Banks
Now she is most well-known for creating the reality competition show “America’s Next Top Model”, but American model Tyra Banks was one of the original Victoria’s Secret Angels starting in 1997. The model retired from the VS catwalk in 2005 and went on to host her own talk show. Tyra has appeared on covers for Harper’s Bazaar, GQ and Elle.
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Image: Karolina Kurkova at 2006 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
No.12 – Karolina Kurkova
The Czech beauty was named a Victoria’s Secret angel in 2006 and first appeared in the 2000 show at the age of 16. She has fronted campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Max Mara among other labels. The blonde was also a judge on season 1 of the Oxygen model reality television show, “The Face”, alongside models Naomi Campbell and Coco Rocha. Karolina Kurkova has appeared on two solo American Vogue covers.
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Image: Jasmine Tookes wears the Fantasy Bra at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
No.13 – Jasmine Tookes
Another one of the newer Victoria’s Secret Angels, Jasmine Tookes worked with the brand since 2012 but signed a contract in 2015. In 2016, she became the third black model to wear the VS Fashion Show’s Fantasy Bra. Jasmine also landed the covers of magazines such as ELLE US, Vogue Spainand Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam.
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Image: Jasmine Tookes wears the Fantasy Bra at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
No.14 – Taylor Hill
One of the newer Angels, Taylor Hill, signed a Victoria’s Secret contract in 2015. But she looks to be on track to become another super star at the lingerie brand. Soon afterwards Taylor would also land lucrative contracts with Lancome and L’Oreal Professionnel. Taylor graced the covers of magazines such as Vogue UK, Glamour France and V Magazine.