The Angels Who Made History
The women who turned a pair of wings into a pop culture icon.
For twenty years, being an Angel was the most famous contract in modelling. It meant a pair of wings, a place in the most watched runway show in the world and, for a lucky few, a Fantasy Bra worth millions. These are the women who turned the job into pop culture.
01Tyra Banks
The first · Angel 1997–2005
In 1997 Tyra Banks became the first African American woman on the cover of the Victoria’s Secret catalogue. She was also the first Black woman on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. She walked ten shows, then built a second career as the creator of America’s Next Top Model.
When the show came back in 2024, she was the one who closed it.
02Heidi Klum
The Body · Angel 1999–2010
Heidi Klum was the first German Angel and wore the Fantasy Bra three times, in 1999, 2001 and 2003. Her nickname, “The Body”, was so famous that Victoria’s Secret turned it into a product line.
She also hosted the show, in 2002 and again from 2006 to 2009.
03Gisele Bündchen
The record · Angel 2000–2007
In 2000 Gisele Bündchen walked in the Red Hot Fantasy Bra, valued at $15 million and listed by Guinness as the most expensive lingerie ever made. In 2005 she wore the $12.5 million Sexy Splendor bra.
Forbes ranked her the highest-paid model in the world every year from 2002 to 2017. In 2023 she came back for the brand’s Icons campaign.
04Adriana Lima
The longest-serving Angel · Angel 2000–2018
No one did it longer. Adriana Lima is the longest-serving Angel in the show’s history: she opened a record five shows, wore a record 26 sets of wings and walked in the Fantasy Bra in 2008, 2010 and 2014.
When she left in 2018, the show said goodbye with a “Thank You Adriana” tribute. She has walked again since the comeback.
05Alessandra Ambrosio
The constant · Angel 2004–2017
Alessandra Ambrosio was the first face of PINK and wore the Fantasy Bra in 2012 and 2014. In 2011 she walked while pregnant, in what is remembered as the heaviest pair of wings in the show’s history.
She came back for the 2024 and 2025 shows, and she is one of the names confirmed for 2026.
06Miranda Kerr
The first Australian · Angel 2007–2013
Miranda Kerr was the first Australian Angel and wore the $2.5 million Fantasy Treasure Bra in 2011.
Long before skincare was everyone’s favourite topic, she founded her own organic beauty brand, KORA Organics, in 2009.
07Candice Swanepoel
The jewel · Angel 2010–2018
In 2013 Candice Swanepoel wore the Royal Fantasy Bra by Mouawad, valued at $10 million and covered in more than 4,200 gems, with a 52-carat ruby at the centre. She walked thirteen shows in the original era.
She returned for the comeback in 2024 and 2025, and she is confirmed for 2026.
08Karolína Kurková
The one who kept walking · Angel 2005–2009
Karolína Kurková wore the Fantasy Bra twice, in 2002 and in 2006, when the “Hearts on Fire” bra was valued at $6.5 million.
That same year she lost a shoe on the runway and simply kept walking. It is still one of the most shared moments of the show.
Wings were the uniform. What each of them did next was the real story.
Some of them are walking again this year. Read our cover story to see who came back to the runway on Sunday night. ✦
Sources: Wikipedia (list of Victoria’s Secret models), Wikipedia (the show), Wikipedia (Tyra Banks), Wikipedia (Heidi Klum), Wikipedia (Gisele Bündchen), Wikipedia (Adriana Lima), Wikipedia (Alessandra Ambrosio), Wikipedia (Miranda Kerr), Wikipedia (Candice Swanepoel), Wikipedia (Karolína Kurková).
Years as an Angel follow Wikipedia’s list of models. For Gisele Bündchen, her own Wikipedia page gives 1999–2006 instead.
Comments open soon. Until then, tell us what you think on Instagram.