You may have heard the persistent rumor that Victoria's Secret "Angels" are the ones allowed to wear "wings" during the brand's annual fashion show. But that's not the full truth. In actuality, the only models who walk for the show and can also be called "Angels" are the ones with signed contracts. Every other girl on the catwalk that night is just a plain, old model.
And just so you know you can't just call any model with wings an "Angel," let's break this down:
These are the 14 models who are currently under contract with Victoria's Secret and (for the most part) walking in the 2017 fashion show in Shanghai:
Adriana Lima
Alessandra Ambrosio
Behati Prinsloo
Lily Aldridge
Candice Swanepoel
Elsa Hosk
Jasmine Tookes
Lais Ribeiro
Martha Hunt
Romee Strijd
Sara Sampaio
Stella Maxwell
Taylor Hill
Josephine Skriver
These models have obligations to fulfill with the brand, meaning they have to be on call for photo shoots, appearances, and parties for VS throughout the year. Other models walking in the show (unless they are contracted with VS Pink) do not.
Although most of the Angels get to wear wings during the show, some models who aren't contracted with VS also get to wear them. Like, you know who got to wear wings last year? Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid, neither of whom have Victoria's Secret contracts. See? Wings mean nothing, I tell you, NOTHING.
And although the aforementioned women aren't "Angels" per se, there's no reason you can't call them "Victoria's Secret models" generically, especially since they've appeared in more than one show.
There you have it. Go forth in the world with this knowledge, and do what you will with it.
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Rachel Torgerson is the fashion features director at Cosmopolitan, overseeing fashion coverage online, in print, and on our various social media platforms. She has over a decade of experience in the fashion and media industries, musing on style through multiple lenses, including cultural, celebrity, and bridal. Her ultimate focus: making fashion less exclusive and more relatable. Before landing at Cosmopolitan as a digital fashion editor in 2016, she worked at Us Weekly, The Knot, and Fitness Magazine, among others. When she's not discussing runway trends, you can definitely catch her trying (and, in many cases, failing) a new crochet cardigan pattern or in a spirited debate about the difference between the Bridgerton books vs the Netflix series. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok: @RachelTorgs
