Victoria Secret - Everything about them

Victoria's Secret Angels
Main article: List of Victoria's Secret models
The company's Angels underwear collection was marketed in 1997 by a TV commercial that included supermodels Helena Christensen, Karen Mulder, Daniela Peštová, Stephanie Seymour, and Tyra Banks. In the commercial, the Angels appear in a white cloudscape in dialog with "God", played by Welsh singer Tom Jones, widely known for his fans' tradition of tossing their panties at him during shows.[180] The spoof proved popular and the Angels, as characters, became a regular feature of the advertising as brand ambassadors. The term "Angel" soon became synonymous with the brand.

Official Angels have greater responsibilities than other runway models for the brand, as the Angels are obliged to appear in marketing campaigns, talk shows, major runway shows, and the annual fashion show.[181] The Angels are contracted spokesmodels for the brand, but the company is not transparent about the terms of these contracts.[181] In 1998, the Angels made their runway debut at Victoria's Secret's 4th annual fashion show, (Chandra North filled in for Christensen).[182][183] The brand's Fashion Show and the Angels were closely connected through 2018, the final year that event was held. Some of the early Victoria's Secret Angels included Inés Rivero and Laetitia Casta.[184]

In 2004, the company did not hold a fashion show due fallout from the Super Bowl halftime show controversy, and instead alternately marketed the brand via a tour called Angels Across America.[185] Victoria's Secret sent its five contract models (Banks, Klum, Bundchen, Lima, and Ambrosio) out for the event.

Victoria's Secret's Angels continued to be featured in popular culture, and were chosen to be part of People magazine's annual "100 Most Beautiful People in the World" in 2007.[186] The Angels became the first trademark awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 13, 2007, with Klum, Lima, Ambrosio, Kurkova, Goulart, Ebanks, Marisa Miller, and Miranda Kerr at hand.[187] Alongside new Angel Doutzen Kroes, they also took part in the grand reopening of the Fontainebleau in Miami in 2008.[188]

In 2009, the brand held a nationwide competition for a new Runway Angel.[189] Thousands of contestants applied; Kylie Bisutti prevailed as the winner but soon grew disillusioned and parted ways with the brand.[190] Ellingson, Kroes, and Kloss departed after the 2014 fashion show.[191][192]

Several promotional tours featuring the Angels have been organized by the brand. These included the 2010 Bombshell tour,[193] the 2012 VSX tour,[194] and the 2013 Swim tour.[195][196] In 2015, Angels featured on the brand's first Swim Special were Elsa Hosk, Martha Hunt, Jac Jagaciak, Stella Maxwell, Lais Ribeiro, and Jasmine Tookes, along with model Joan Smalls.[197][198]

In 2019, new Angels Leomie Anderson, Grace Elizabeth, Alexina Graham, and Barbara Palvin, were added to the roster. Palvin made her fashion show debut with Victoria's Secret in 2012, not appearing again until 2018, while Graham, (the first redheaded Angel) walked in both 2017 and 2018.[199][200] Anderson began walking in 2015, while Elizabeth (a PINK spokesmodel, 2016 - 2019) walked her first Victoria's Secret show in 2016.[201][202]

The Victoria's Secret brand has had at least 3 dozen official Angels (as of 2020)[203] [a] Other notable spokesmodels for the brand have included Claudia Schiffer,[204] Eva Herzigová,[182] Oluchi Onweagba, Jessica Stam, Ana Beatriz Barros,[205] and Bregje Heinen,[206] as well as celebrities such as Taylor Momsen.[207]

In 2021, the brand confirmed it was moving away from the Angel concept, with only Hill, Elizabeth and Christensen (who had recently started working for the brand again in 2020 after a more-than-20-year hiatus) still working with them.[208]