Before the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show became a bastion of glossy waves, A-list musical acts, and light-up lingerie, it was just that: a fashion show. At its inception, the event was less about sparkly eyeshadow or self-tanner. Models did their own makeup backstage, and — believe it or not — the fabled angel wings did not yet exist.
Supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, and Claudia Schiffer walked the runway in simple underthings and heels — no props, no confetti, and no body bronzer. Some of them even wore bobs and ponytails instead of the signature waves that came to define the brand. Over time, the show evolved to represent a specific, narrow beauty ideal — one that is actually, thankfully, beginning to shift this year.
We decided to take a look back at the biggest beauty moments of the show over the past few decades to see just how much it's changed. From Tyra Banks to Maria Borges, each model has played a part in making every event more memorable than the last. Click through the slides ahead, then set your DVR for December 5 to see how this year's show stacks up.
1995
The first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, held at The Plaza Hotel in New York, featured models with thin brows and earth-toned makeup. It doesn't get more '90s than that.
Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage.
1996
An up-and-coming Tyra Banks kept the '90s makeup trends alive, wearing brown, glossy lips and contoured cheeks. A Barbie ponytail completes the look.
Photo: Rose Hartman/WireImage.
1997
That's right, you're looking at a bob on the VS runway. Before long, beachy waves became the show's signature hair, stylists used oversized rollers to give models like Rebecca Romijn bouncy, voluminous curls on their own natural hair.
Photo: KMazur/WireImage.
1998
Naomi Campbell walked the runway with long, stick-straight hair and kohl-rimmed eyes.
Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage.
1998
Flushed cheeks, berry lips, blunt fringe, and a lob? Yes, this is actual footage from a Victoria's Secret (and not Marc Jacobs) show — and we are here for it.
Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage.
1999
And then, there were wings! In addition to more elaborate styling, models like Carmen Kass rocked flushed cheeks in this fairy-themed presentation.
Photo: Jon Gordon/ Hulton Archive/ Getty Images.
1999
Believe it or not, bleached brows used to grace the VS runway. And Kirsty Hume's look extra ethereal paired with long, straight locks and rosy cheeks.
Photo: STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images.
2000
In the early 2000s, straight hair ruled the VS runway, seen here on Molly Sims.
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect/ Getty Images.
2000
Stephanie Seymour paired her auburn hair (including sexy side-bangs) with peach lips, cheeks, and lids.
Photo: Pool BENAINOUS/DUCLOS/Gamma-Rapho/ Getty Images.
2001
Straight hair continues to reign, and we see the introduction of smoky, bedroom eyes on models like Adriana Lima.
Photo: KMazur/WireImage.
2001
Gisele Bündchen's hair was as straight as her cheekbones were sharp, thanks to a flat iron and strategic contouring.
Photo: J. Vespa/WireImage.
2002
Tyra Banks served up some major smize with smoky eyes and Bardot-inspired hair — foreshadowing the wavy-hair decade to follow.
Photo: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive/ Getty Images.
2003
Campbell gave a nod — and a wink— to '90s glam with brown lips and lids. And check it out: another ponytail. (This time, with Swarovski crystals.)
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images.
2003
Heidi Klum’s bedhead curls and glowy skin (enhanced with highlighter) were swiped straight from the era’s J.Lo videos.
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images.
2004
Our obsession with 2000s gloss will be forever immortalised in this photograph.
Photo: Gregory Pace/FilmMagic.
2004
The nude lips, smoky eyes, and glowy skin on VS vets Banks and Klum remained beauty inspo for years to come.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.
2005
Exactly how much self-tanner went into achieving this golden-goddess look? We may never know, but paired with loose waves and baby highlights, it became the template for VS models for years to come.
Photo: Jason Nevader/WireImage.
2006
Karolína Kurková brings the cat-eye to the runway for a fresh look.
Photo: Arun Nevader/FilmMagic.
2006
Ajuma Nasenyana’s buzzed hair and showstopping highlighter were a beautiful departure from the VS blueprint.
Photo: Arun Nevader/FilmMagic.
2007
Angela Lindvall rocked bouncy '80s hair with minimal makeup in this 2007 look.
Photo: Arun Nevader/FilmMagic.
2007
The nude lips Jessica Stam wore could have been from any era, but the highlight on the inner corners of her eyes was an emblem of the time.
Photo: Arun Nevader/FilmMagic.
2008
Models who walked the 2008 show, including Doutzen Kroes, were futuristically feminine, with tumbling waves and high-strobe makeup.
Photo: Arun Nevader/FilmMagic.
2008
Bettie Page-inspired hair and highlighted skin gave the 2008 show an edgier vibe.
Photo: John Parra/WireImage.
2009
Miranda Kerr cemented her Angel status with soft makeup and brushed-out waves.
Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images.
2009
Marisa Miller showed off bronzer (and a six-pack) for days. Her frosty-pink lipstick is giving us major middle school vibes.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.
2010
Behati Prinsloo fully embraces 2010 with white inner-rimmed eyes and beyond-glossy pink lips.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.
2010
Bookmarking the peach hue on Chanel Iman's cheeks as the perfect blush colour to try this weekend.
Photo: Arun Nevader/FilmMagic.
2011
Lily Aldridge took bronzed skin to the next level in this look.
Photo: Randy Brooke/WireImage.
2012
Between the contoured cheekbones and rusty smoky eyes, we can’t stop staring at this picture of Karlie Kloss.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images.
2012
Liu Wen's look — complete with elaborate body art and hair jewellery — turned heads.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images.
2013
Jessica Hart’s baked makeup became a VS (and Instagram) essential in the years to follow.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images.
2014
Jourdan Dunn’s choppy, textured lob is the stuff of Pinterest dreams. (And we love a departure from the traditional long waves.)
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images.
2014
Soft, smoky eyes paired with nude lips: another classic look that never feels dated.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.
2015
Gigi Hadid’s barely-there makeup and windblown hair made her look like an earthy goddess.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.
2015
The K-family was certainly proud: Kendall Jenner wore her brows bold and cheeks contoured for last year's show.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.
2015
Maria Borges made history in 2015 as the first woman to wear her natural Afro on the VS runway. This year, the show promises to embrace more natural hair textures — including curls, tight crops, bobs, and lobs. A refreshing step in the right direction, if you ask us.
Photo: Michael Stewart/FilmMagic/ Getty images.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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