Victoria’s Secret has confirmed the first six models for its 2025 Fashion Show, which will take place in New York City on Wednesday, October 15. The lineup unites Adriana Lima, Alex Consani, Anok Yai, Joan Smalls, Lily Aldridge, and Yumi Nu, marking a combination of legacy figures, breakthrough stars, and a debut appearance that reflects the show’s evolving direction.
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The announcement marks the beginning of the brand’s build-up to one of the most closely watched events on the fashion calendar. After a five-year hiatus, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returned in 2024 with a refreshed format that combined live performances, new casting choices, and a broader sense of representation. Last year’s edition featured music by Cher, Tyla, and Lisa of BLACKPINK, alongside a roster of models that brought together familiar Angels and newcomers. The 2025 reveal suggests that the brand intends to deepen that formula, giving equal weight to its past and its future.
Adriana Lima anchors the cast with her unparalleled record on the Victoria’s Secret runway. She first walked for the brand in 1999 and went on to appear in nearly every show until her 2018 farewell, logging more appearances than any other model in the event’s history. Her surprise comeback in 2024 was widely seen as a symbolic gesture linking the reboot to its golden-era legacy. Her inclusion again in 2025 underscores that connection while reminding audiences why she remains one of the most enduring figures in the show’s history.
Lily Aldridge also reclaims her place, marking her tenth show since debuting in 2009. Over nearly a decade with Victoria’s Secret she became one of its central figures, notably wearing the Fantasy Bra in 2015. Speaking about her return, Aldridge described her approach to the show as positive and energetic, saying she sees herself as the person backstage lifting the atmosphere for fellow models. She remembered her first appearance as overwhelming, her legs “feeling like Jell-O and cement,” though the walk became a career-defining moment. She still keeps the outfit from that debut stored carefully, a personal reminder of how much the show shaped her early career.
Joan Smalls brings another layer of continuity. She first appeared in 2011, joining at a time when the Victoria’s Secret runway was expanding its reach through international broadcast. Smalls established herself as one of the most in-demand models of the 2010s and rejoined the show for the 2024 relaunch, where her confidence and stature gave the reboot a sense of polish. Her 2025 participation signals Victoria’s Secret’s ongoing interest in connecting its earlier era to its present ambitions.
Alongside these veterans, the lineup also features models who reflect the current landscape of fashion. Anok Yai, who made history in 2018 as the first South Sudanese model to open a Prada show, has since become a fixture of major campaigns and catwalks. Her Victoria’s Secret debut in 2024 stood out as one of the strongest moments of the relaunch, and her return in 2025 confirms her place in the new core of Angels. Alex Consani broke ground in 2024 as the first trans model to appear in a Victoria’s Secret runway show. Her inclusion last year was seen as a clear signal of the brand’s intent to broaden its casting, and her return in 2025 reinforces her role in shaping the company’s future image.
The final name in the initial roster, Yumi Nu, will make her debut this October. Known for her dual career as a model and musician, Nu has already made history elsewhere in the industry as the first Asian plus-size model to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. Her addition to the Victoria’s Secret runway continues the casting approach that began in 2024, introducing figures who expand the image of what the brand represents while bringing their own accomplishments to the stage.
With the first six names announced, Victoria’s Secret will expand the lineup in the coming weeks and confirm the artists set to perform. The show returns to New York on October 15 at 7 p.m. Eastern, continuing the format reintroduced in 2024 and positioning this year’s edition as the second chapter in the event’s revival.
