Not All Angels Earn Their Wings: Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2026

Wings, glitter, supermodels and a front row that looked like a Hollywood family reunion. The angels are back, but not everyone was feeling heavenly.

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2026 brought its signature spectacle back to Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles. And while the angels were busy serving looks, the internet was already busy serving opinions. Because what's a Victoria's Secret show without a little controversy?

Once the ultimate symbol of early 2000s glamour, the Victoria's Secret runway has always been about more than lingerie. It was a pop culture event, a supermodel status symbol and, let's be real, a rather unrealistic beauty standard wrapped in pink satin and angel wings. Now, in an era where inclusivity, celebrity culture and social media influence are reshaping the fashion industry, Victoria's Secret is trying to find its place again. And this year's show made one thing very clear: the brand isn't exactly interested in being subtle.

Quiet luxury? Never heard of her.

Forget minimalism. This year's runway was all about making a statement, preferably in every color of the rainbow. Think bright yellow and baby pink, purple details, teal accessories and enough sparkle to be seen from miles away. After years of beige everything and clean-girl aesthetics, Victoria's Secret seemed determined to remind us that fashion can still be fun, excessive and a little ridiculous. In the best possible way.

Bella Hadid appeared with iconic voluminous curls and a flower-garden-inspired miniskirt, looking like a fairy who had accidentally wandered onto the Victoria's Secret runway. The floral-inspired opening set the tone for a show that embraced fantasy, femininity and a whole lot of playful excess. There were sparkling bras, dramatic wings, colorful combinations and the kind of runway styling that doesn't exactly translate into everyday dressing. But then again, nobody watches Victoria's Secret for practical outfit inspiration.

And of course, what's a Victoria's Secret show without the OG angels? Candice Swanepoel and Adriana Lima reminded everyone why they earned their wings in the first place. There's something about seeing the original supermodels return to the runway that instantly transports you back to the golden era of Victoria's Secret, when the annual show felt like girls’s answer to the Super Bowl.

Alongside familiar faces, the runway featured a wider range of body types, reflecting the brand's ongoing attempt to redefine what an angel can look like. A welcome change, even if the definition of the perfect body still has some catching up to do. Because while the wings may have become more inclusive, the beauty standards surrounding them haven't entirely disappeared.

More pop concert than fashion show? We're not complaining.

With Megan Moroney, Tate McRae, JADE, KATSEYE and Megan Thee Stallion on the lineup, the musical performances were practically a show of their own. And considering that Victoria's Secret has always understood the power of a good pop culture moment, the lineup made perfect sense.

Tate McRae performed her new song Housewife, dressed in red and looking every bit like an angel herself. Gigi Hadid kicked off Tate's performance in a sparkling teal-and-pink look, serving playful winks and the kind of runway confidence that makes you remember why she's a Hadid. A little choreography, a little sparkle and a whole lot of main-character energy.

KATSEYE brought their girl-group energy to the PINK segment, while Megan Thee Stallion delivered exactly the kind of confidence and attitude the runway needed. Somewhere between the choreography, the glitter and the wings, it became increasingly difficult to tell whether we were watching a fashion show or a pop concert. Not that anyone was asking for less. If anything, the performances proved that the Victoria's Secret runway has never really been just about the clothes. It's about creating moments people want to watch, screenshot, repost and talk about the next morning. And in the age of TikTok, a viral moment might just be worth more than the lingerie itself.

The Fantasy Bra controversy. Or should we say, keeping it in the family?

And then there was Miss Kylie Jenner.

Making her Victoria's Secret debut in none other than the iconic Fantasy Bra, complete with sparkling details, a white miniskirt and angel wings. Casual, right?

Traditionally associated with some of the brand's most established models, the Fantasy Bra has long been considered one of Victoria's Secret's biggest runway honors. The kind of moment that used to represent years of runway experience, countless shows and a certain level of supermodel status. So naturally, the internet had questions.

Why was someone who had never walked a Victoria's Secret show before being handed one of its most prestigious moments? For some, it was a genius pop culture crossover. For others, just another reminder that a famous last name can sometimes take you further than years on the runway.

And let's be clear, the conversation wasn't really about whether Kylie looked good. She did. It was about what happens when influence starts to outweigh experience, even in an industry supposedly built around modeling.

Of course, celebrity appearances are nothing new to fashion. But there's something particularly interesting about a brand built on the idea of earning your wings suddenly handing one of its most recognizable symbols to someone whose fame was established long before she ever stepped onto its runway. Is it still about being an angel, or simply about being famous enough to become one?

Meanwhile, Kris Jenner and Timothée Chalamet were watching from the front row, making the whole thing feel a little more like a Kardashian family events. Kris was, of course, filming like she was back in Ariana Grande's thank u, next music video, while Timothée looked almost as proud as the internet's favorite supportive husband, Dylan Sprouse.

Honestly, the front row was becoming a show of its own.

This year's runway welcomed quite a few new faces. Besides Kylie Jenner, German influencer Lena Mantler, one half of the former social media duo Lisa and Lena, made her angel debut. A casting choice that once again blurred the lines between traditional modeling and the new generation of internet-famous faces.

Meanwhile, some familiar favorites were noticeably missing. Longtime runway regulars like Romee Strijd and Taylor Hill didn't make this year's lineup. And while the fashion industry has always been obsessed with discovering the next big thing, there's something bittersweet about watching the faces that once defined an era slowly make room for a new generation.

And then there was Barbara Palvin, returning to the runway just six weeks after giving birth. Yes, six weeks. In a TikTok clip, she addressed the pressure on mothers in the US to return to work shortly after having a baby, pointing out how strangely normalized this expectation has become. And while many viewers celebrated her for speaking up, the moment also raised a bigger question.

Because sure, seeing Barbara back on the runway was iconic. But should returning to work just weeks after giving birth really be something society treats as normal?

In a country where paid maternity leave isn't federally guaranteed, returning to work shortly after childbirth isn't always a choice. For many women, it's a financial necessity. And while a supermodel's runway comeback is obviously very different from the reality most working mothers face, the conversation surrounding it touches on something much bigger than fashion.

Women are constantly expected to do it all. Have the baby, recover, get back to work, look amazing and somehow make the entire process seem effortless. Preferably without complaining. Maybe the most surprising thing about Barbara's comeback wasn't how quickly she was back in heels and wings, but how little we seem to question the expectation in the first place.

Once an angel, always an angel…

After all the celebrity debuts, pop performances and front-row family moments, it was Adriana Lima who had the final word. Closing the show, the OG angel reminded everyone that some things simply can't be replaced by follower counts.

And perhaps that's what made this year's show so interesting. Victoria's Secret seems to be caught somewhere between nostalgia and reinvention, holding on to the supermodel fantasy that made it famous while trying to keep up with an industry increasingly driven by social media relevance.

The 2026 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show had it all: nostalgic supermodels, a new generation of famous faces, colorful wings, pop performances and enough controversy to keep the group chats busy for days.

But beneath all the glitter, one question remains: Is Victoria's Secret still celebrating its angels, or has the runway become just another extension of celebrity culture?

Either way, everyone was watching.

And maybe that's exactly the point.

by Noémi Zak