It's the time of year when the glitter sparkles brighter, the #fitspo gets (way too) intense , and the wings are dusted off: Yes, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is right around the corner.
This year, the lingerie giant is flying its angels to Paris to film a catwalk spectacular at the end of the month, which will air during primetime on December 5. However, the whole thing has become way more than just a televised runway show. And considering that ratings were way down last year, the event has evolved to encompass a months-long journey where social-media savvy models share every single event (and photo opportunity) that leads up to the actual show — from casting to fitting to run-through and every workout in between.
It's certainly no small operation: So far, there are more than 50 models confirmed to board a pink jet to France. There are the Angels , of course (sans Candice Swanepoel and Behati Prinsloo, both of whom seem to be on maternity leave), and other high-profile gets, such as Gigi Hadid, Joan Smalls, and Liu Wen. There are also a bunch of very exciting newcomers, from Gigi's sister, Bella, to industry-favourite Dilone, who'll be joining the gang on the glittery catwalk this year.
These models have more in common than just being part of the Victoria's Secret model lineup. They've all mastered the art of social media, as evidenced by their tear-inducing posts announcing they'd been picked for the pink plane to Paris — and of course several lifetimes' worth of very professional selfies.
There are still a few uncertainties leading up to the show — will Cara Delevingne accept Ed Razek's invitation to come back to the catwalk? And we may not know until the show airs next month. Until then, we rounded up all the models we can expect to see light up our television screens with their megawatt smiles (and bedazzled lingerie) come December 5.
Dilone
During Fashion Month, it felt as if there wasn't a catwalk Dilone didn't strut down. So, unsurprisingly, she charmed the folks at Victoria's Secret, too. If you haven't yet fallen hard for Dilone, just read her heartfelt note about the casting: "This ones for the outcasts that get told they can't do something, be someone, go somewhere [because] they're just a little different. I'm so so happy to announce that I will be a part of the 2016 [Victoria's Secret Fashion Show]! Never in a million years did I think this would be happening! So unbelievable, fun and something I've never done before!" (Bonus: She already has her mini-wings.)
Photo: Via @_dilone . Alanna Arrington
When you go from opening the fall '16 Altuzarra show to walking the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in the same year: Yeah, 2016 has treated Alanna Arrington pretty well, we'd say.
Photo: Via @alannaarrington . Jourdana Phillips
From Saint Laurent exclusive to Victoria's Secret Fashion Show newbie, Jourdana Phillips has had quite the season. Clearly, Paris is her city to shine in.
Photo: Via @jourdanaelizabeth . Bella Hadid
She may be a newcomer to the Victoria's Secret catwalk, but she's far from a newbie. Bella Hadid continues her fashion-world domination by joining sister Gigi in Paris for what will probably be the most watched runway she'll ever strut down. "There is no better feeling than being confirmed for the [Victoria's Secret Fashion Show]," she wrote on Instagram . Just wait until showtime, Bella.
Photo: Via @bellahadid . Georgia Fowler
Victoria's Secret has a rep for making models' dreams come true when it announces its newest faces. (It's sort of like the Disney World of fashion in that way.) Georgia Fowler couldn't dim that smile when she confirmed that she will indeed be walking for the lingerie giant, thanking the Victoria's Secret crew for checking off one of her longtime goals.
Photo: Via @georgiafowler . Lameka Fox
This model's agency surprised her with the news of her casting (and got her balloons!). The Washington, D.C., native actually got her start on Instagram, according to Vogue , so it's only fitting she'd take to the platform to share this very exciting development. "I can't believe it," she wrote . "I've been dreaming about this since I was a little girl. This is such an incredible feeling. I'm on cloud nine right now."
Photo: Via @lamekafox . Luma Grothe
Watch out, Izabel Goulart — looks like Luma Grothe is already coming after one of your signature moves. The fellow Brazilian gave her best hair-flip to the camera when she announced she'd be flying to Paris with the Angels.
Photo: Via @thelumagrothe . Lais Oliveira
This'll be Brazilian model Lais Oliveira's first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, although she's modelled for the brand for some time now. Nonetheless, she's understandably psyched about the casting, thanking everyone from her management to the show's producers to the flurry of fan pages that have already lent their support.
Photo: Via @laisoliveiraofficial . Megan Williams
"Can't take the smile off my face," Megan Williams wrote on Instagram two weeks ago, when she got the call. "Is this real?!" Her first casting for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show may have been hard to believe at first — but it'll be very real come November 30.
Photo: Via @meganmayw . Xiao Wen
If you enjoy watching Victoria's Secret's emotional casting videos, we definitely recommend Xiao Wen's : The model was understandably overwhelmed by the news, so she walked to the nearest corner and just buried her face in the wall — later asking her management, "Really?" Wen once called the glittery catwalk one of her professional dreams — and now she's checking it off her bucket list.
Photo: Via @jujujuxiaowen . Grace Elizabeth
Grace Elizabeth couldn't even get through the sentence "I'm walking in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" without tearing up. "When I first went in to my agency before I even signed, they asked me my goal, and I told them... I want to walk for Victoria Secret," she wrote on Instagram . "At the time, I laughed about it; I never knew I would go this far." Fast-forward to 2016. Cue the aww s.
Photo: Via @lovegrace_e . Zuri Tibby
Zuri Tibby made history earlier this year when she became the first Black spokesperson for Victoria's Secret Pink in the diffusion line's 14-year history. Now, she's riding that momentum all the way to the City of Lights. Tibby's definitely come a long way from that mall she was discovered in .
Photo: Via @angelzuri . Keke Lindgard
From Hawaii to Paris, Lindgard is certainly going places. She jumped for joy when she got the news that she booked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show — and seemingly hasn't stopped jumping since. (Hey, we wouldn't, either.)
Photo: Via @kekelindgard . Maggie Laine
She has New York Fashion Week under her belt. Next, Maggie Laine will walk the most glittery runway on the planet. This'll be the Georgia native's first-ever show for Victoria's Secret.
Photo: Via @maggievlaine . Kelly Gale
Swedish-Australian model Kelly Gale might have the best idea of the bunch for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show: She tagged her official social announcement with #croissants — because she has her priorities in order.
Photo: Via @kellybellyboom . Herieth Paul
Herieth Paul will join fellow Maybelline spokesperson Gigi Hadid on the Paris catwalk this year. The Tanzanian-born, Ottowa-based model has a flurry of high-fashion credits to her name, including Brandon Maxwell, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Jonathan Simkhai this past season — and all before her 21st birthday.
Photo: Via @heriethpaul . Gigi Hadid
Guess who's back, back again: Gigi Hadid is taking her sophomore strut down the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show catwalk — and alongside her younger sister, no less.
Photo: Via @gigihadid . Liu Wen
We couldn't get enough of Liu Wen's shimmy during her cameo in Vogue's rendition of "Freedom" — so, let's see what dance moves she brings out on the Victoria's Secret runway when she struts to the tunes of Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, and Bruno Mars.
Photo: Via @liuwenlw . Kate Grigorieva
After a solid spring '17 season (walking shows like Balmain and Cushnie et Ochs), Russian model Kate Grigorieva comes back home to Victoria's Secret.
Photo: Via @_kate_g_ . Irina Shayk
She may be an industry veteran compared to many in this year's crop, but even Irina Shayk has room for firsts on her résumé. This marks the first trip down the Victoria's Secret catwalk for the Russian model — and it's probably not the last.
Photo: Via @irinashayk . Valery Kaufman
Valery Kaufman's ready for round two: The Russian model's been gearing up for her sophomore Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, after quite the spring '17 season as a Gucci exclusive , Dior feminist , and Stella McCartney stan .
Photo: Via @valerykaufman . Leomie Anderson
Coming off the launch of her feminist brand , Leomie Anderson returns to the Victoria's Secret crew for the brand's Paris affair.
Photo: Via @leomieanderson . Bridget Malcolm
Australian model Bridget Malcom shows off her side-plank skills in some Victoria's Secret Sport before slipping into her catwalk wings.
Photo: Via @bridgetmalcolm . Ming Xi
Design student turned model Ming Xi began working with Victoria's Secret back in 2013. Now, she's going on year four of walking the show — one of the many catwalks she's trotted down in Paris this year alone .
Photo: Via @mingxi11 . Joan Smalls
Joan Smalls may have kept a relatively low profile this Fashion Month, but the model will be bringing her smoulder back to the Victoria's Secret extravaganza.
Photo: Via @joansmalls . Barbara Fialho
Barbara Fialho walked her first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show with a sparkling Eiffel Tower on her head as part of the 2013 "Parisian Nights" segment — so, what could be more full circle than travelling with the brand to France's capital this year?
Photo: Via @barbarafialho1 . S anne Vloet
Sanne Vloet is doing what we always say we're going to do, which is go from the airport straight from the gym to stretch our legs a bit. Maybe all we're missing is a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show booking to really motivate us...
Photo: Via @sannevloet . Sui He
She just walked a Victoria's Secret runway in her native China — but that was just a warm-up for Sui He. The model returns to the lingerie brand's highly anticipated event this year.
Photo: Via @hesui923 . Devon Windsor
She may be a Victoria's Secret regular, but even Devon Windsor still gets emotional when it comes to this particular catwalk. "So four years ago I was walking around Zara in Soho trying to find some scarves for the brutal NYC winter when @imgmodels called me," she recalled on Instagram of the first time she booked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. "I literally screamed out loud in disbelief and had to leave the store to call my mom and tell her the news." This'll be her fourth time walking in the show, and she notes that "the feeling of getting confirmed is exactly the same, if not better."
Photo: Via @devwindsor . Maria Borges
Last year, Maria Borges made a gorgeous statement (and a first for the brand) when she walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion show with an afro. Frankly, we can't wait to see how she wows us in 2016.
Photo: Via @iammariaborges . Izabel Goulart
This will be Izabel Goulart's 12th — 12th! — time walking the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Such an achievement merited a signature of the brand's Angels Walk of Fame .
Photo: Via @iza_goulart . Lily Donaldson
Lily Donaldson's always a favourite on the Victoria's Secret runway, so we're glad to see her join the gang once again in Paris.
Photo: Via @lilydonaldson . Daniela Braga
She samba'd when she was first confirmed to walk two years ago, and now Daniela Braga's coming back for her third Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. This time, there are more crunches .
Photo: Via @bragadany . Cindy Bruna
The first time she got a callback for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, Cindy Bruna thought she blew it for one very specific reason. "I had my eyebrows bleached from the Prada Campaign I had just shot," she wrote on Instagram a few weeks ago. "You can just imagine how I look without eyebrows." As the story goes, Bruna did in fact book the show that year. ("When my agency told me I confirmed the show, I kept on asking 'Are you sure they want me? Are you sure I am the one they confirmed?,'" she added.) Well, now she's going back to her hometown to walk the glittery runway once again.
Photo: Via @cindybruna . Flávia Lucini
You may have last spotted Brazilian model Flavia Lucini walking around New York covered in paint in Pete Yorn's music video for "She Was Weird," as Vogue reported. Now, you'll see her joining the Victoria's Secret gang once again at the annual fashion show.
Photo: Via @flavialucini . Rachel Hilbert
Rachel Hilbert, the super smiley face of Pink, is gearing up for Paris, as seen through her workout Instagrams .
Photo: Via @rachelhilbert . Josephine Skriver
She's done the glittery lap many a time, but this marks Skriver's first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show as a bona fide Angel. Not only that, but she'll be doing it in bedazzled glory, wearing this year's Swarovski-designed get-up . How festive!
Photo: Via @josephineskriver . Alessandra Ambrosio
It wouldn't be a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show without Alessandra Ambrosio, now would it?
Photo: Via @alessandraambrosio . Lais Ribeiro
Soak in all the downtime now, Lais Ribeiro: The longtime Victoria's Secret model is back at it again for the 2016 show.
Photo: Via @laisribeiro . Taylor Hill
When she's not taking the industry by storm, Taylor Hill comes home to her Victoria's Secret family. This'll be the Denver native's second year walking as an Angel.
Photo: Via @taylor_hill . Lily Aldridge
Behati Prinsloo may not be there for more twinning opportunities , but Lily Aldridge will be back on the Victoria's Secret runway, reprising her title as Angel.
Photo: Via @lilyaldridge . Elsa Hosk
At the end of the rainbow is.... Swedish model (and Angel extraordinaire) Elsa Hosk, taking her talents to the City of Lights for the 2016 spectacle.
Photo: Via @hoskelsa . Sara Sampaio
As an Angel, Sara Sampaio gets dibs on some of the most show-stopping garments that make their way down the Victoria's Secret runway. Off-duty, the Portuguese model takes her costuming just as seriously — just check out her Halloween look . Let's see how the 2016 Parisian duds compete.
Photo: Via @sarasampaio . Jasmine Tookes
All eyes will be on Jasmine Tookes this year: The Angel will have the distinct honour of wearing this year's Fantasy Bra — which, in Victoria's Secret World, is the biggest of deals. The 2016 garment is called the Bright Night Fantasy Bra, and it's valued at $3 million. Toto, we're not in Beautiful by Victoria's Secret territory anymore.
Photo: Via @jastookes . Romee Strijd
Get that glow, Romee Strijd! The Dutch Angel will once again be breaking out her wings.
Photo: Via @romeestrijd . Adriana Lima
At this point, we don't need more proof of Adriana Lima's badass-ery, but here she is doing the Mannequin Challenge while holding a punch on set.
Photo: Via @adrianalima . Martha Hunt
Martha Hunt will also be reporting for duty on the Victoria's Secret catwalk. With so many members of The Squad decamping to Paris for the event, will Taylor Swift make an appearance?
Photo: Via @marthahunt . Stella Maxwell
Watch out, Paris: The Angels are coming to town.
Photo: Via @stellamaxwell . Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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