Angel Reese took her game from the court to the catwalk and made history along the way.
The Chicago Sky forward became the first professional athlete to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on Wednesday, joining the brand’s high-profile “Wings Reveal” lineup in New York.
“It was destined for me,” Reese said during an interview before the show began. “This really is for me. I’m so happy to be in this room with so many amazing models and women. The team that brought it all together was amazing. I’m so excited.”
Reese said she hired a modeling coach to “improve my career.”
“I walk, I sleep, I hoop,” she said. “And I sleep, I walk.”
Reese, 23, made her Victoria’s Secret runway debut wearing a pink lingerie set with floral and lace details, paired with a sexy feather shawl draped over her arms. The wrapper is covered in a soft, rose-colored texture.
The 6-foot-3 Reese donned the signature white angel wings that have defined the show for decades, a new phase for the athlete known for his confidence, charisma and crossover appeal. I walked to the tune of Lumidee’s song “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh.)”
Reese is a former Louisiana State University national champion and the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament in 2023.
“One of her biggest dreams was to be on this show,” said Lou Roach, the celebrity fashion designer who co-hosted the pink carpet, helped reinvent Zendaya and turned Celine Dion into a style icon, and is a close friend of Reese’s.
“We had a conversation. I told her, ‘I don’t think this is a big dream at all,'” Roach said. “And for it to happen in a year or less, that she’s on the show, and I mean, she looks amazing, like the hair, the makeup, her presence, she’s ready, she’s excited. And it makes me even more proud that she’s the girl out of most girls that I have, you know, a deeper kind of connection with.”
The show was streamed live on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Prime Video in the US. The show was a mix of music and celebrities, with Madison Beer’s pink wings performing “Make You Mine” with lingerie-clad models strutting down the catwalk.
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K-pop group TWICE also made an appearance on the runway, performing their songs “This is For” and “Strategy.” Karol G sang “Ivonny Bonita” before walking solo in red wings and lingerie.
Reese has become one of the most prominent figures in women’s sports. Her style, candor, and social media influence have helped bridge the gap between sports, fashion, and pop culture.
The lingerie show began in 2001 and has been held annually for nearly two decades. Victoria’s Secret canceled the show in 2019, but brought it back last year with Reese in attendance.
Associated Press writer John Carucci in New York contributed