Gigi Hadid, 31, returned to the Victoria’s Secret runway Sunday night for her sixth turn in the lingerie spectacle.
The supermodel was the very first name locked in when the brand announced its Los Angeles show earlier this year, a promotion from rookie to veteran that capped years of persistence.
Hadid has been open about the grind it took to get there. She previously recalled auditioning “two or three times” before finally booking her spot on the coveted catwalk.
She made her debut as a VS rookie back in 2015, then stepped away for six years starting in 2018. Her return came in 2024, when she opened the show and closed it alongside sister Bella Hadid.
Bella, 28, also walked Sunday’s runway, scoring the opening slot in a pair of flower-covered wings.
Gigi’s first look of the night came during Tate McRae’s performance: sparkly paillette-covered wings, a matching sequined slip, and a layered lingerie moment with blue and pink lace panties doubled up.
She wasn’t done after that walk. Later in the show, she hit the catwalk again in an all-white lace corset with matching boyshorts, a diamond body chain, and another set of the brand’s signature wings.
When the brand confirmed her as the inaugural cast member for the LA show, Hadid shared a video announcement with a playful nod to pop culture.
“Get in, Angels, we’re going to LA!” she quipped in the clip, calling the news “iconic.”
The glitter catwalk also welcomed back a roster of familiar faces. Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Candice Swanepoel, Amelia Grey Hamlin, and Alex Consani were among the fellow alums joining the Hadid sisters.
The 2026 show marked another chapter in the brand’s attempted comeback after years of criticism over its lack of inclusivity and the cancellation of its traditional televised format. The LA production leaned heavily on nostalgia and established names, with the Hadid sisters serving as twin anchors of the marketing push.
Hadid’s booking carried particular weight given her personal history with the casting process. Where she once faced repeated rejection, she now ranks among the show’s most recognizable returning Angels.
The full lineup for Sunday’s spectacle blended legacy models with newer faces, though the promotional focus stayed fixed on the established stars who defined the brand’s earlier era.
