In the glittering heart of New York City, where the skyline pulses with ambition and the air hums with possibility, a new chapter unfolded in the timeless tale of beauty, boldness, and boundary-breaking. On October 15, 2025, at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returned with a roar, transforming a sprawling soundstage into a dreamscape of lace, lights, and unapologetic glamour. But this wasn’t just another parade of ethereal wings and sparkling lingerie—it was a seismic shift, a moment when the worlds of elite sports and high fashion collided in spectacular fashion. At the center of it all was Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky forward whose magnetic presence on the basketball court has long hinted at her potential to conquer any stage. Reese didn’t just walk the runway; she owned it, becoming the first professional athlete ever to do so, and in the process, igniting a wave of admiration that rippled from fellow stars like Coco Gauff to fans across the globe.
Picture the scene: a sea of pink-hued spotlights bathing the runway in a soft, seductive glow, the crowd a mix of A-listers, supermodels, and influencers buzzing with anticipation. The show, which clocked in at a brisk under an hour, was a masterclass in reinvention. Gone were the days of unattainable perfection; this edition celebrated diversity in every form—transgender models striding with fierce grace, plus-size icons radiating confidence, and even pregnant participants glowing like living jewels. Performances from Madison Beer, Karol G, the K-pop sensation TWICE, and the indomitable Missy Elliott provided the soundtrack to this symphony of self-expression, their beats syncing perfectly with the click of stilettos on the catwalk. Returning legends like Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Jasmine Tookes mingled with fresh faces, including supermodels Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid, as well as model Precious Lee and up-and-comer Iris Law. Yet, amid this constellation of icons, it was Reese who emerged as the evening’s undisputed revelation.
Reese, the 23-year-old phenom whose rebounding prowess has made her a cornerstone of the WNBA, stepped into this unfamiliar territory with the same tenacity that defines her game. Clad in a breathtaking ensemble of blush-pink hues—a rose boa draping her shoulders like a luxurious cape, paired with a barely-there bikini that accentuated her athletic frame—she channeled the poise of a seasoned pro. Later, she switched to another stunning look, this one a fur-trimmed masterpiece complete with expansive angel wings that seemed to catch the light like iridescent feathers. Each step was deliberate, her stride a blend of athletic power and runway elegance, proving that strength and sensuality could coexist without compromise. It was a history-making ramp walk, one that shattered stereotypes and expanded the definition of what an “Angel” could be. As the first athlete ever anointed as a Victoria’s Secret Angel, Reese wasn’t merely participating; she was pioneering, inviting a new generation to see beauty as multifaceted and fierce.
But Reese’s journey to this triumphant debut was anything but accidental. Growing up, she was captivated by the spectacle of the Fashion Show, tuning in year after year with wide-eyed wonder. “I would always watch the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and always dreamed that I, one day, could possibly be a model,” she reflected in the days leading up to the event, her voice laced with that signature mix of humility and fire. Her idol? None other than Tyra Banks, the supermodel-turned-mogul whose unshakeable confidence mirrored Reese’s own. “She reminds me of myself—her confidence and the way she just owns it,” Reese added, drawing a direct line from her childhood inspirations to this pinnacle moment. Knowing the stakes, Reese didn’t wing it—literally. She enlisted the expertise of Alexander Aleson, a retired runway coach who dusted off his playbook just for her. “Be confident, be yourself, have fun,” was his mantra, advice that Reese internalized and amplified into a performance that felt both effortless and electric.
The morning after, as the internet erupted with clips and captions, Reese took to Instagram to immortalize the magic. Sharing a carousel of behind-the-scenes shots and a hypnotic video of her strut, she simply wrote, “first @victoriassecret fashion show 💗.” The post was a love letter to her supporters, a humble nod to the milestone she’d just etched into the annals of fashion history. Among the flood of reactions pouring in from fans and celebrities alike, one stood out for its raw, unfiltered joy: tennis sensation Coco Gauff. Fresh off her electrifying victory at the 2025 Wuhan Open—where she toppled fellow American Jessica Pegula in a finals match that secured her third WTA 1000 title and 11th career singles crown—Gauff paused her post-tournament glow to celebrate her friend. Scrolling through her feed, she was struck speechless, dropping a single, potent word in the comments: “unreal.” It was more than a compliment; it was an exclamation point on the deep bond between these two trailblazers.
Gauff and Reese’s connection runs deeper than social media shoutouts—it’s woven into the fabric of their shared pursuit of excellence across sports. Earlier this year, after Gauff clinched her second Grand Slam at the 2025 French Open by outlasting World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a nail-biting final, Reese was among the first to cheer her on, their mutual respect a quiet force in a noisy world. Gauff, now ranked No. 3 behind Sabalenka and Iga Świątek, has been on a tear through the Asian hard-court swing, her Wuhan triumph capping a season of resilience and reinvention. Off the court, she’s an investor in the groundbreaking Unrivaled Basketball League, a women-led venture that’s reshaping the game. Reese, representing Rose BC in the league, embodies its spirit: innovative, inclusive, and unyieldingly ambitious. The duo even linked up during an Unrivaled game in January, their camaraderie a reminder that success is sweeter when shared. Gauff’s attendance at a New York Liberty vs. Chicago Sky matchup earlier in the year—right after her French Open heroics—further cemented their orbit, with Gauff later admitting how the roaring welcome at Barclays Center left her “overwhelmed” in the best way.
Reese’s foray into fashion isn’t a detour; it’s an extension of her ethos. Long before this runway, she was a style force, turning heads with her pre-game arrivals as sharply as she snags rebounds. Her role on the 2025 Met Gala host committee was just a taste, a whisper of the icon she was destined to become. Joining her on the catwalk was Olympic gymnast Suni Lee, another athletic powerhouse making her debut, their presence a powerful statement: the era of siloed success is over. Women like Reese and Gauff are redefining victory not just in points and trophies, but in the courage to straddle worlds, to demand space in rooms they weren’t invited to dominate.
As the final notes of Missy Elliott faded and the wings folded away, the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show left an indelible mark—not as a relic of glamour, but as a beacon for what’s possible when athletic grit meets unbridled fantasy. Angel Reese, with her rose-tinted wings and unbreakable stride, didn’t just make history; she made it feel attainable, inspiring a chorus of dreamers to lace up their sneakers and spread their own wings. And with friends like Coco Gauff in her corner, whispering “unreal” into the ether, Reese’s ascent is just beginning. In a world that often tries to box in brilliance, these women are the ones breaking the glass—elegantly, fiercely, and forever.
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