Irina Shayk says carrying her daughter down the runway remains her favorite memory from her first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
The Russian model, 39, made that revelation backstage before her fourth turn on the VS catwalk, held this year in Los Angeles. Exactly ten years had passed since she debuted on the brand’s runway while secretly pregnant with her first child.
“That was really fun. I felt very proud being Mama,” she recalled in her interview Style. Shayk shares daughter Lea De Seine, now 9, with ex Bradley Cooper.
The 2016 show marked Shayk’s first appearance in two carefully chosen looks: a fringed and beaded bodysuit and a gray lacy lingerie set worn beneath a trench coat. Both ensembles successfully concealed her growing baby bump from the audience. She has since returned for the 2024 and 2025 editions, with the 2026 event counting as her fourth overall.
What draws her back year after year? “Sexy push-up bras, beautiful fluffy wings, girls, and [having] fun backstage,” she quipped.
The milestone has also prompted reflection on her daughter’s future. Asked how she would respond if Lea De Seine expressed interest in following her into modeling, Shayk offered a diplomatic deflection: “We’ll talk about it later. That’s what I’m gonna tell her!”
The 2026 runway lineup mixes established VS veterans with fresh faces. Returning names include Gigi Hadid, Alessandra Ambrosio, Candice Swanepoel, and Adriana Lima. Newcomer Natalia Bryant is set to make her debut. Barbara Palvin is also walking, returning just six weeks after giving birth to her first child with husband Dylan Sprouse.
Shayk’s concealed pregnancy walk a decade ago placed her among a select group of models who have taken the runway while expecting. The practice has drawn attention over the years as a visible intersection of professional demands and personal milestones.
The 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show streams live at 7:30 p.m. ET on YouTube and across the brand’s social media channels.
