15 Victoria’s Secret Angels Who Ruled the Runway

Joanna Elizabeth

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Updated March 22, 2024

Victoria's Secret Angels
See the most iconic Victoria’s Secret Angels.

Since the debut of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 1995, becoming a Victoria’s Secret Angel has marked a turning point in the careers of numerous supermodels like Tyra Banks, Gisele Bündchen, and Heidi Klum.

Being named an Angel was seen as a significant achievement. But what does this title actually mean?

These models landed a substantial contract with the lingerie brand, positioning them as the stars of its annual Fashion Show and leading figures in its marketing campaigns and commercials.

In 2021, the brand retired the term Angel in lieu of the VS Collective. Despite this, we will never forget these 15 iconic beauties who have worn wings.

Famous Victoria’s Secret Angels

Stephanie Seymour

Stephanie Seymour Victorias Secret Model
Stephanie Seymour walks the 5th Annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 1999. Photo: IMAGO / Pond5 Images

The incomparable Stephanie Seymour was one of the very first Angels from 1997 until 2000. Outside of her work with the company, the brunette landed advertisements with leading labels such as Versace, Estee Lauder, and Revlon.

In 2017, she launched her own lingerie line, Raven & Sparrow made for a luxury consumer base.

Candice Swanepoel

Candice Swanepoel Victoria's Secret
Candice Swanepoel at the Victoria’s Secret 2013 Fashion Show. Photo: FashionStock.com / Shutterstock.com

Candice Swanepoel was named a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2010, and this South African beauty became one of the most popular. She covered the swim catalogue three years in a row, and wore the Fantasy Bra at the 2013 show. The blonde models more than just lingerie though.

Candice has worked with some of the industry’s top photographers, such as Steven Meisel, Mert & Marcus, and Patrick Demarchelier. She also graced covers for international versions of Vogue, including French, Italian, and Japanese editions.

Alessandra Ambrosio

Alessandra Ambrosio Victoria's Secret Model
Alessandra Ambrosio at the 2009 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Photo: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Brazilian beauty Alessandra Ambrosio became a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2004. She was the first face of Victoria’s Secret’s PINK line, which is geared toward younger customers.

The model also worked with high fashion brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Armani Exchange, and Ralph Lauren. The mother of two designs as well, debuting her swimwear line GAL Floripa in 2019.

Adriana Lima

Adriana Lima VS Angel
Adriana Lima at the 2010 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Photo: Fashionstock.com / Shutterstock.com

Another Brazilian stunner, Adriana Lima, is the longest-running Angel, working with Victoria’s Secret since 1999 until she retired in 2018. The brunette beauty worked with some of the industry’s leading photographers.

Those include Mert & Marcus, Ellen von Unwerth, and Steven Meisel. She fronted ads for brands like Miu Miu, Guess, and Givenchy.

Taylor Hill

Taylor Hill Victoria's Secret Runway
Taylor Hill at the 2015 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Photo: Victoria’s Secret

American model Taylor Hill signed a Victoria’s Secret contract in 2015, and the time spent quickly parlayed her into superstardom. Soon afterwards Taylor would also land lucrative contracts with Lancome and L’Oreal Professionnel.

The top model went on to grace the covers of magazines such as Vogue UK, Glamour France, and V Magazine.

Helena Christensen

Helena Christensen Victorias Secret
Helena Christensen at a 1996 Victoria’s Secret runway show. Photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Danish beauty Helena Christensen was one of the original VS Angels to appear in television spots during the 1990s. She also starred in catalog work and advertisements for the lingerie brand.

Outside of fashion, she is most well-known for starring in a music video for Chris Isaak’s 1989 song, ‘Wicked Game’. After covering numerous publications, the supermodel also went on to become a fashion photographer.

Gisele Bundchen

Gisele Bundchen VS Runway
Gisele Bundchen on Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2005 runway. Photo: Fashionstock / Shutterstock.com

Gisele Bundchen walked the Victoria’s Secret runway starting in 1999 and left the brand in 2006. One of the most popular Angels, the blonde personifies the word supermodel. Gisele appeared in campaigns for Chanel, Roberto Cavalli, and Versace.

The mom of two has landed on top of the Forbes’ Highest Paid Models List through the years. Her lucrative business ventures have included a beauty, lingerie, and clothing line.

Miranda Kerr

Miranda Kerr Victorias Secret runway
Miranda Kerr walks the 2011 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Photo: FashionStock.com / Shutterstock.com

Australian model Miranda Kerr worked as a Victoria’s Secret Angel from 2007 to 2013. Since leaving the brand, this brunette beauty has fronted Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Jil Sander campaigns. Miranda’s covers include titles such as Vogue Italia, GQ UK, and Elle US.

Kerr started a successful beauty brand named Kora Organics, which features all-natural products. The brunette stunner married Snapchat co-founder Evan Spiegel in 2017.

Heidi Klum

Heidi Klum Victorias Secret
Heidi Klum at the 2005 VSFS. Photo: FashionStock.com / Shutterstock.com

German beauty Heidi Klum strutted on the Victoria’s Secret catwalk before becoming a television icon on shows such as Project Runway and America’s Got Talent.

Named an Angel in 1997, she had an impressive thirteen-year run until she retired from the runway in 2010. She is also business-minded, launching her own swimwear and lingerie companies for women.

Jasmine Tookes

Jasmine Tookes Victoria's Secret
Jasmine Tookes walks the 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York City. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret

American stunner Jasmine Tookes has 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 USVogue Spain, and Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam. Today, she has an activewear company called JoJa co-founded with Josephine Skriver.

Behati Prinsloo

Behati Prinsloo Victoria's Secret
Behati Prinsloo at the 2014 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Photo: Victoria’s Secret

Model Behati Prinsloo became the face of Pink in 2008 and then landed a contract as a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2009. She married the frontman of Maroon 5, Adam Levine, and the two have three children together.

The Namibian model starred in campaigns for brands such as H&M, Chanel, Nina Ricci, and Tommy Hilfiger. Her covers include titles like Elle France and i-D.

Doutzen Kroes

Doutzen Kroes Victorias Secret
Doutzen Kroes at the 2009 VSFS. Photo: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Dutch model Doutzen Kroes started her career in high fashion, fronting campaigns for brands like Versace, Valentino, and Gucci. The blonde beauty began her work with Victoria’s Secret in 2004 and became an Angel in 2008.

She left in late 2015 after seven years with the brand. Doutzen also posed for multiple Vogue covers, including the German, French, and Italian editions. A face of L’Oreal Paris, she went on to design her own lingerie and swimsuit collections.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Rosie Huntington Whiteley Victorias Secret Angel
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at the 2010 VSFS. Photo: Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com

British stunner Rosie Huntington-Whiteley started working for the lingerie brand in 2006. Named a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2009, she ended her contract in 2011. Rosie went on to star in campaigns for Burberry, Tiffany & Co., and Valentino.

She also covered fashion glossies such as Vogue UKVogue Spain, and Glamour. Rosie had acting roles in films such as ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ and ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’. The blonde currently designs a lingerie, beauty, and swimwear line for Autograph by Marks and Spencer.

Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks Victorias Secret Angel
Tyra Banks walks the 2005 VSFS. Photo: FashionStock.com / Shutterstock.com

She is most well-known for creating the reality competition show “America’s Next Top Model”, but 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 launched her own cosmetics line, TYRA Beauty, in 2014. She became the host of ‘America’s Got Talent’ in 2017. Tyra also starred on covers for magazines like American Harper’s BazaarGQ, and Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Edition.

Karolina Kurkova

Karolina Kurkova Victorias Secret
Karolina Kurkova on the VS Fashion Show runway. Photo: FashionStock.com / Shutterstock.com

Czech model Karolina Kurkova became a VS Angel in 2006, first appearing in the 2000 show at 16. She left the brand in 2009. She also landed campaigns for labels like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Max Mara.


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8 thoughts on “15 Victoria’s Secret Angels Who Ruled the Runway”

  1. Gisele Bundchen, Adriana Lima and Miranda Kerr are my favorites. Gisele’s walk is amazing, Adriana’s eyes are so beautiful and Miranda’s smile is angelic.

    Reply
  2. Can’t believe Stepanie Seymour and Heather Stewart-Whyte aren’t on here. They were THE faces of VS for almost a decade and as scorching-hot as any pair that made this list.

    Reply

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