Gisele Bundchen’s absence from the revived Victoria’s Secret show this week left fans deeply disappointed.
But it has been revealed that the supermodel icon, 44, who was one of the brand’s Angels from 1999 to 2006, was asked to rejoin the lingerie group for the show but turned down the offer due to which would retire from the catwalk in 2020.
TMZ reports that Victoria’s Secret contacted Gisele’s team in June when they began casting for the show, and her agents “politely declined” on her behalf, citing her retirement from runway modeling.
Emmanuelle Alt, former director of French Vogue and VS runway styler, reportedly tried to convince Gisele to come out of retirement, to no avail.
Gisele last worked with Victoria’s Secret in 2023, when she modeled for the brand’s Icons campaign.
Gisele Bündchen’s absence from the revived Victoria’s Secret show this week left fans deeply disappointed, and the reason for her absence (pictured in 2005) has been revealed.
She told O Globo in 2020: ‘I never said I would retire, just that I would no longer do catwalks. I will never stop working. My wish is to continue creating until the day I die.
She previously said: ‘My body automatically tells me if what I’m doing is worth it and tells me to stop doing it. I respect my body, it is a privilege to be able to stop. I’ve learned to listen to my body.’
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York featured musical performances from Cher, Tyla and BLACKPINK’s Lisa, while Gigi and Bella Hadid, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio and Ashley Graham walked the runway.
The fashion show was canceled in 2019 after dealing with poor ratings and a host of controversies, and has since made an effort to be more inclusive.
The show was once a glamorous, star-studded affair that began in 1995 and featured a who’s who of the modeling world, including Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Gisele Bundchen and more.
It even featured musical performances from artists like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd.
But the company canceled the show and dropped the Victoria’s Secret Angel title in 2019 amid criticism that the brand did not include models of all shapes and backgrounds.
TMZ reports that Victoria’s Secret contacted Gisele’s team in June when they began casting for the show, and her agents “politely declined” on her behalf, citing her retirement from runway modeling (pictured in March). .
The show was once a glamorous, star-studded affair that began in 1995 with Gisele, one of the brand’s most iconic faces, photographed with angels Karolina Kurkova, Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum and Adriana Lima.
She told O Globo in 2020: “I never said I would retire, just that I wouldn’t do catwalks anymore” – pictured wearing the $10 million Heavenly 70 Fantasy bra in 2005.
Bella and Gigi Hadid were among the other famous faces on the New York runway.
Tyra Banks, 50, returned 19 years after her last appearance on VS, wearing crystal-encrusted black leggings, a black and silver bustier, and a metallic cape.
A damning 2020 article in The New York Times included accusations of misogyny, bullying and harassment by former marketing director Ed Razek.
He also listed concerns about L Brands CEO Leslie Wexner’s long friendship with convicted felon Jeffrey Epstein before his death in prison.
Epstein was awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors at the time of his death.
The 2022 Hulu documentary, Victoria’s Secret: Angels & Demons, continued to shine the microscope on the lingerie brand’s corporate culture.
The three-part series included claims of body shaming, misogyny and discomfort that the PINK line, aimed at tweens and teens, made girls feel bad about themselves.
Victoria’s Secret was separated from the parent company in 2021.
Now it seeks to regain its reputation and dominance in the lucrative intimate apparel market.
They now feature models of all backgrounds and sizes, similar to pioneering Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty campaigns and shows.