Angel Reese, Quenlin Blackwell, and Precious Lee Lead Victoria’s Secret’s 30th Anniversary Comeback
From courtside to catwalk and content to couture; Angel Reese, Quenlin Blackwell and Precious Lee redefine the modern Angel.
Safe to say, tonight is for the girls who grew up watching the wings and never quite saw themselves in them. As the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show turns 30, it’s rewriting its legacy — with Angel Reese, Quenlin Blackwell and Precious Lee leading a new definition of beauty.
For decades, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show felt like the Super Bowl for women, a glamorous fantasy built on unattainable bodies and glittered wings. But this time, it feels different. With Angel Reese, the WNBA star known for her power and poise, and Quenlin Blackwell, our internet cousin and charismatic wild card, the brand signals a shift from aspiration to authenticity.
Their walk is more than lingerie and body-wave bundles. It’s a strut toward legacy, visibility, and the kind of confidence that can’t be scripted.
Why this matters
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show first debuted in 1995 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Back then, it was a modest production, more catalog than couture, with simple sets and even simpler lingerie. It wasn’t until 1998 that the now-iconic Angel Wings took flight, transforming the show into the global spectacle it would soon become.
By 2001, the show had evolved into full-blown entertainment — televised, star-studded, and paired with musical performances that turned it into a pop-culture event. Each year, the wings grew larger, the budgets bigger, and the fantasy brighter.
But as the world changed, Victoria’s Secret didn’t — or at least, not fast enough. As beauty standards diversified and new voices reshaped media, the brand faced mounting criticism for its lack of representation and inclusivity. Viewership declined, and by 2019, the runway lights went dark.
After a five-year hiatus, the Angels returned in 2024, and this time, they came back different. With new bodies, new faces, and the inclusion of trans models, Victoria’s Secret finally seemed ready to trade perfection for progress. The message was clear: representation isn’t a trend. It’s the future.
This Time, the Wings Fit
Thirty years later, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show finally feels in tune with the world it’s dressing. Watching Angel Reese, Quenlin Blackwell, and Precious Lee take that stage feels like the runway finally caught up to the women it was meant for.
Reese walks in with the authority of an athlete who’s already changed the game. Quen brings the raw, unpredictable energy of a generation that made its own spotlight. And Precious Lee? She is the moment before the moment, proof that beauty doesn’t have to shrink to be celebrated.
Together, they represent where Victoria’s Secret is headed: bolder, broader, and finally, believable. It’s not a fantasy anymore. It’s reflection. And tonight, when those wings hit the runway, they just might feel like they finally belong to us.
For more information on tonight’s show, visit: https://www.victoriassecret.com/us/vs/vsinsider/fashionshow