WNBA champion Angel Reese has officially brought her basketball skills from the court to the runway — and into the record books. The 23-year-old Chicago Sky forward is the first professional athlete to ever walk in Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, first strutting her stuff Wednesday night during the high-profile “Wings Reveal” show in Brooklyn, New York.
Reese, already known for her bold confidence and magnetic presence on and off the court, called the moment “a dream come true.”
“It was destined for me,” Reese told reporters before stepping onto the catwalk. “This is already for me. I’m just so happy to be surrounded by so many amazing women and models. The whole team that made this happen has been incredible. I’m beyond excited.”
From Hoops to Haute Couture
Reese demonstrated that she was serious about attacking her new venture, where she hired a modeling coach to perfect her walk prior to the night’s main event.
“I walk, sleep, hoop — and I hoop, sleep, walk,” she joked, flashing her trademark mix of humor and confidence.
Her first walk was all of show-stopping. Reese strode in a hot pink floral lingerie getup, painstakingly trimmed with lace and flowering detail work, with a sweeping feathered cape in rose and soft pink colors. Completing the look were the legendary angel wings, a symbol that has become synonymous with Victoria’s Secret’s legacy of glamour and confidence.
Strutting down the runway to the 2000s hit “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)” by Lumidee, Reese commanded the stage — combining athleticism with high fashion elegance.
Law Roach and Angel Reese: A Dream Realized
Celebrity stylist Law Roach, who has dressed such style icons as Zendaya and Celine Dion, was just one of the many fans celebrating Reese. Roach, who co-hosted the pink carpet ceremony, further commented that witnessing Reese achieve this milestone was personal.
“One of her biggest dreams was to walk this show,” Roach shared. “I told her, ‘That’s not a big dream — that’s possible.’ And in less than a year, here she is. She looked stunning — the hair, the makeup, her energy. She’s ready and she’s glowing. I’m just so proud of her.”
Roach, who has coached Reese through her rising fashion career, referred to her as the “next generation of athlete icons” — women who glide effortlessly among sport, fashion, and cultural icon status.
The 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was the brand’s continuous evolution following its cancellation in 2019 and highly anticipated return in 2024. The latest addition blended music, fashion, and celebrity acts, live streamed on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Prime Video.
Pop sensation Madison Beer started the night off right, wearing pink wings as she sang her song “Make You Mine.”
The global platform also featured K-pop behemoth TWICE, who set ablaze the crowd with their double performances of “This Is For” and “Strategy.”
Latin Grammy award winner Karol G set the catwalk ablaze, performing “Ivony Bonita” before posing with the models in a fiery red-winged ensemble.
Victoria’s Secret described the theme this year as “Wings Reveal,” a celebration of personal empowerment, confidence, and transformation, which paralleled Reese’s own brand of grit and unapologetic authenticity.
Angel Reese: Where Sports, Fashion, and Culture Collide
Ever since she burst onto the scene as a force to be reckoned with at Louisiana State University (LSU) — leading the Tigers to a national championship and being crowned 2023 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player — Reese has become one of the most recognizable faces in women’s sports.
Her influence extends well beyond the court. With her expressive style of play, competitive spirit, and impassioned voice on issues of race, gender, and representation, Reese has achieved a reputation as a trailblazer redefining what it means to be a modern-day athlete.
Her beauty endorsements, social media popularity, and fashion-forward personality have also endeared her to sponsors and designers — from Mielle Organics to Reebok — and further solidifying her crossover appeal.
“Angel Reese is not just a basketball prodigy — she’s a movement, a brand, and now an icon on the runway,” culture analyst Samantha Riley said. “She embodies a new generation of women athletes who can be tough competitors on the court and fashion icons off it.”
Victoria’s Secret Redone
The undergarment giant’s latest production further solidifies its quest to update and diversify its brand image following decades of criticism. By showcasing women like Angel Reese — whose popularity transcends the scope of mainstream modeling — Victoria’s Secret makes a pretty explicit attempt at welcoming body positivity, diversity, and uniqueness more solidly.
The company’s highest creative executive called the 2025 shoot “a reimagining of what beauty and strength look like today,” labeling Reese’s involvement “a powerful statement about confidence in all its forms.”
A Defining Moment
To Reese, the landmark is another landmark in a career as a cultural icon. From winning championships to walking along one of the world’s most famous runways, her ability to bridge the worlds of sports, fashion, and empowerment shows no signs of weakening.
This is only the beginning,” Reese smiled backstage. “Basketball will always be my first love, but fashion lets me express another side of who I am. And I love that the world gets to know that.”.
