15 Models Who Should've Been Cast in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
For as far back as I can remember, my friends and I have marked our calendars and planned viewing parties (complete with ALL the snacks) for the highly-anticipated Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. We tuned in for the glitter, the star-studded performances, the overall sense of magic — and albeit we were always left in awe of the event — there’s also no denying that it elicited some not-so-fabulous feels on the self-esteem front. And even though the show made strides last year to be more inclusive of different hair textures and skin tones, we think there's always room for improvement when it comes to inclusivity. That's why we put together this list of models that we absolutely love — many of whom have appeared in the pages of Teen Vogue — who we would love to see walk down this year's runway. Whether they've got curves for days or a less "bombshell" look that still exudes attitude and sexiness, we think they'd make this year's show (in Paris!) even better.
Photo: Tanya and Zhenya Posternak1/15Diana Veras
With a gorgeous head of curls and a curvy figure she embraces proudly, we’d love nothing more than to see Diana Veras shut down the VS catwalk.
2/15Leyna Bloom
Leyna Bloom made waves as the first openly transgender woman of color to appear in Vogue India. The multicultural model — she's Filipina and African-American — is currently starring in the Moschino x H&M campaign.
Photo: Tyrone Lebon3/15Adwoa Aboah
With a shaved head, cheeks sprinkled with freckles, and her own organization made to inspire girls globally through sisterhood, Adwoa Aboah is truly a one-of-a-kind beauty. We couldn’t be more in awe of her passion for uniting young women — which we think should earn her a spot on the VS catwalk.
Photo: Dan Jackson4/15Binx Walton
Binx Walton, who stands out with just her name alone, is the perfect, cool-girl skater type we want to see included on the VS runway. And after stunning in ads for Calvin Klein, Vera Wang, and more, we’re not sure what the holdup is.
Photo: Dan Jackson5/15Pooja Mor
What is beauty without brains? Because Pooja Mor has both. The inimitable Indian stunner, who was featured on the pages of Teen Vogue earlier this year, snagged herself an engineering degree before taking on modeling as a full-time gig. Yet as stunning as Pooja is, we’ve been hard-pressed to find many Indian models represented in the industry, and we think it’s definitely time to change that.
6/15Madeline Stuart
An Australian model with Down syndrome, Madeline Stuart has walked in more than 60 shows on pretty much every major runway in the world — from New York to London to Paris. She's a strong advocate for continued inclusivity and diversity in the modeling world.
Photo: Mayan Toledano7/15Barbie Ferreira
At just 19 years old, Barbie Ferreira is already breaking down major boundaries in the industry. Her body-positive attitude, mega-watt smile, and vivacious personality make her a force to be reckoned with, and after being featured in countless campaigns, from Target to American Apparel (and beyond), we’re positive she’d make the perfect addition to the VS catwalk.
8/15Luz Pavon
When have we seen a Mexican model on the VS runway? If you’re stumped, it’s because we haven’t. Enter Luz Pavon, a curly-haired beauty who stuns for campaigns like Balmain and Juicy Couture. With her voluminous hair and stunning smile, we know without a doubt she’d rule the VS runway.
9/15Mama Cax
This Haitian-American model, advocate, motivational speaker, and blogger really does it all. She made her New York Fashion Week debut in September 2018, and also landed on the Teen Vogue cover that same month alongside two other prominent voices within the disabled community, Jillian Mercado and Chelsea Werner.
10/15Rianne Van Rompaey
The lack of redheads on the VS runway has always perplexed us, especially considering what how gorgeous the color is. One of our favorite ginger models, by far, is Rianne Van Rompaey. Her long-flowing locks and adorable freckles make her a no-brainer for the VS catwalk.
11/15Andreja Pejic
It’s 2016 so you’d think it goes without saying that transgender models should be included. While we wait, however, we’ll go ahead and tout the truly dazzling Andreja Pejic, who is a mainstay on runways across the globe. From gracing the pages of Vogue Australia to dazzling in Attitude Mag, this is one model we need to see on the VS runway, ASAP.
12/15Ashley Graham
And at last, the always stunning Ashley Graham. As a body-positive activist who’s graced countless catwalks and glossy magazine pages, we’re seriously wondering where her VS casting invite has been all these years.
Photo: Mayan Toledano13/15Lulu Bonfils
Blonde bombshell Lulu Bonfils never ceases to leave us in awe. Whether she’s stunning for ASOS or alongside her pal Dounia, Lulu always looks like an angel. Hence why she should definitely be included in the lineup, stat.
14/15Precious Lee
Precious Lee is all about breaking down barriers. In 2016, she was the first African-African plus-size model to appear in Sports Illustrated’s annual Swimsuit Issue. She also starred in several campaigns for Lane Bryant, including #ImNoAngel, #PlusIsEqual, and #ThisBody.
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Oh damn that was only a few short years ago for me, but I think I'd tell myself to just chill and try my best to always live in the moment. College classes and trying to secure internships and all that ... Read More
