Refugee, transgender and plus-size models: The wonderful new Victoria’s Secret representatives

Victoria's Secret has bet on new faces for its VS Collective rebrand. Seven women were chosen to represent the firm that in 2019 abandoned its famous Victoria's Secret Fashion Show after being criticized for objectification of women. Now, the brand is positioning itself as a champion of body positivity, leaving behind outdated beauty standards, and accepting figures of all kinds. Have you met the new VS angels? Find out who they are!

She is a two-time World Cup champion, lesbian, and activist for women and LGBTQ+ community’s rights. About being a new addition to the lingerie brand, Rapinoe proudly wrote on her Twitter account: “I am excited and ready to partner with @VictoriasSecret as part of #TheVSCollective - women who I admire and are icons of our time. I'm looking forward to working with them to show ALL women their individual and collective beauty and power. #VSAmbassador.” The OL Reign player also released a statement that read: “Often I felt myself on the outside looking in with brands in the beauty and fashion industry. I'm thrilled to be creating a space that sees the true spectrum of all women.”

She is an Indian actress, model, film producer, and singer, but also the winner of the Miss World 2000 pageant! Chopra is one of India's highest-paid and most popular stars, not to mention she is extremely gorgeous. She is also teaming up with the lingerie brand and took to Twitter to share the good news: “I’m most excited for new customers and for those who have always been a customer of Victoria’s Secret to feel represented and like they belong.”

The Brazilian model and actress became Victoria's Secret's first openly transgender model in August 2019. Sampaio is also the first Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue openly transgender model, appearing in the magazine back in 2020. As if this was not powerful enough already, Valentina is also the first trans face of Armani Beauty. Now, she is joining VS Collective and we couldn’t be happier for her!

She is the only Chinese skier to earn multiple gold medals at the FIS world championships, and China’s first X Games winner. The 18-year-old athlete is also a two-time Youth Olympic Games gold medallist. About her participation with Victoria's Secret, Gu wrote on Instagram: “So proud to be part of the @victoriassecret collective, and incredibly excited to see how this dynamic and empowered group of women will help contribute to the future of such an iconic brand.”

Plus-size model Paloma Elsesser has modeled for big firms including Nike, Inc., Fenty Beauty, Proenza Schouler, and Mercedes-Benz. She has also appeared in fashion magazines such as American Vogue, Vogue Spain, Teen Vogue, Elle, W, Wonderland Magazine, and Glamour. She was chosen as the best model of the year 2020 by Models.com. About her new participation with the lingerie brand, she told Victoria’s Secret: "I'm beyond excited to partner with VS in this capacity and support our collective mission to embrace and celebrate the vastness and beauty of womanhood. My experience thus far has been one of reciprocity and care, and I can't wait to collaborate in a bigger way.”

Adut Akech is a refugee model of Sudanese origin who supports mental wellness programs for women. In addition to being one of the most requested faces for luxury brands, Akech was named the Model of the Year in 2019 by the British Council. On her work with Victoria's Secret, the model said to the firm: "Being part of The VS Collective marks such a special moment, and I feel blessed to be part of a group that celebrates and empowers individuality. Many may say that we ‘represent’ something, but I know I wouldn't be here without the support of so many voices that deserve to be heard more than myself. This collective is not only "me" or "us" - but also includes people and communities that have helped all of us grow both within and outside our careers.”

Cadenet is an English photographer, author, and media personality based in Los Angeles. She began her entertainment career in the 1990s, first as a presenter for the British series ‘The Word’ and ‘The Big Breakfast’ before moving to the U.S. to briefly pursue an acting career. On her work with VS, she said: “I believe true change comes from the inside out and that a group of aligned people can shift culture. I welcome the opportunity to be a part of this incredible collective of women and to utilize my creative and professional abilities to prioritize authentic representation of women and support Victoria's Secret senior leadership in their mission to drive systemic change."

Through the new VS Collective, the new faces and representatives will provide brand consulting, appear in ads and promote Victoria's Secret trends on Instagram. The lingerie brand generates more than $5 billion in annual sales and 32,000 jobs in 1,400 stores. Martin Waters, chief executive of the firm, said in an interview with the New York Times: "When the world was changing, we were too slow to respond. We needed to stop being about what men want and to be about what women want."

Martin Waters also told The New York Times that Victoria's Secret plans to resume its fashion shows in 2022, but in a very different form. Also, the parent company of Victoria's Secret, the L Brands group, announced the division of its activities, which will result in the separation of the lingerie brand from the rest of the company.

Over the past years, Claudia Schiffer, Irina Shayk, Naomi Campbell, Isabeli Fontana, Irina Shayk, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Alesandra Ambrosio, Miranda Kerr and Gisele Bundchen, among others, are only some of the most famous women who walked on the runway wearing the legendary angel wings.