Angel Reese Makes History as the First Professional Athlete to Walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

NEW YORK (AP) — Angel Reese has conquered basketball courts across America. Now, the Chicago Sky star is set to conquer the runway.

The 23-year-old WNBA sensation announced this week that she will be walking in the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, becoming the first professional athlete in history to ever appear in the brand’s iconic lingerie runway event.

For Reese — a 6-foot-3 forward known as “Bayou Barbie” for her blend of grit, glamour, and unapologetic confidence — the moment marks yet another milestone in a career defined by breaking barriers.

“Stepping into the dream: From angel to Victoria’s Secret Angel,” Reese wrote on Instagram on Monday, sharing a short video of herself preparing backstage. “I finally got my wings. I’ll be walking my very first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and it feels like destiny. Wings on, heels ready… catch me on the runway.”

The post, which instantly went viral, featured Reese in a pink silk robe, black lingerie, and a striking pair of white feathered wings — the brand’s signature symbol of empowerment and sensuality.

Victoria’s Secret followed with its own announcement on social media:

“Angel Reese, welcome to the runway. The first-ever professional athlete to take the stage — and what a fitting name for an Angel.”

The news sent shockwaves across both the sports and fashion worlds.

From Baton Rouge to the Big Stage

For Angel Reese, this latest achievement is the culmination of a remarkable journey that has transcended basketball.

Born in Randallstown, Maryland, and raised in a family of athletes, Reese first captured national attention at Louisiana State University (LSU), where she helped lead the Tigers to a national championship in 2023. Her combination of dominance on the court and bold personality made her a breakout star in women’s sports — and a lightning rod for conversation about confidence, femininity, and the growing cultural influence of female athletes.

Now, just two years into her professional career with the Chicago Sky, Reese has become a symbol of how modern athletes are redefining fame, femininity, and visibility.

“I’ve always believed women can be strong and beautiful at the same time,” Reese said in a recent interview. “You can dominate on the court and still express your femininity. You can be fierce and still be soft. You don’t have to choose — you can be both.”

Her upcoming appearance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, scheduled for October 15 in New York, will make her the first-ever professional athlete to don the brand’s wings — a symbolic crossover between the worlds of elite sports and high fashion.

The Return of an Iconic Show

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was once one of the most-watched televised events in the world, attracting millions of viewers each year from its debut in 2001 until its hiatus in 2019.

The show featured some of the world’s most famous models — from Gisele Bündchen to Adriana Lima and Tyra Banks — and became synonymous with both fantasy and controversy. After years of declining ratings and criticism for outdated standards of beauty, the brand paused the show to undergo a cultural rebrand.

It made its comeback in 2024, reinvented with a new message: celebrating diversity, body positivity, and empowerment. The revival featured models of different body types, backgrounds, and professions — and Reese was part of that evolution, appearing briefly during last year’s special broadcast as a guest.

This year, she’s not just attending — she’s walking.

A New Kind of Angel

Victoria’s Secret executives have described Reese’s participation as a “defining moment” for the modern version of the show.

“Angel Reese embodies what the new Victoria’s Secret stands for,” said a company spokesperson. “She’s fearless, confident, and unapologetically herself. She represents a generation of women who are rewriting what it means to be powerful and feminine.”

Indeed, Reese’s presence aligns perfectly with the brand’s rebranding efforts. She’s a trailblazer — a woman who has navigated public scrutiny, professional pressure, and cultural debates while remaining authentic.

Her confidence, often labeled “cocky” by critics, has instead become a rallying cry for young women who see her as proof that ambition and self-expression are not mutually exclusive.

“She’s an athlete, a model, an icon — and she owns it,” said sports and culture journalist Jemele Hill. “Angel is part of a new wave of women who are blurring the line between sports and entertainment. She’s showing the world that women athletes can be everything — powerful, glamorous, and influential.”

Fashion Meets Sports

Reese’s move into fashion isn’t entirely new. She’s already established herself as one of the most marketable athletes in women’s sports, with endorsement deals that include Coach, Reebok, Mielle Organics, Amazon, and McDonald’s.

Her social media presence — boasting millions of followers across platforms — combines behind-the-scenes glimpses of her basketball life with polished editorial-style fashion shoots.

In 2024, Reese signed a modeling deal with IMG Models, the same agency representing superstars like Gigi Hadid and Naomi Osaka. Her runway debut at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will mark the biggest step yet in her evolving fashion career.

“I’ve always been into fashion,” Reese said during an interview with Vogue. “Even when I was little, I loved dressing up before games. I feel like fashion and basketball go hand in hand — it’s all about expression and confidence.”

Breaking Barriers in Women’s Sports

Reese’s runway debut also highlights a larger trend: the growing crossover between women’s sports and pop culture.

Over the past few years, WNBA players like Candace Parker, A’ja Wilson, and Sabrina Ionescu have become household names. With athletes such as Reese and Caitlin Clark drawing massive audiences and social media attention, the league is experiencing a cultural renaissance.

By stepping into the fashion world, Reese joins a small but growing list of female athletes who have crossed over into mainstream celebrity status — not for controversy, but for celebration.

“This is about more than a fashion show,” said Dr. Amira Jenkins, a sports culture historian. “This is a statement about visibility. Angel Reese is saying that women athletes belong everywhere — in boardrooms, in campaigns, and yes, on runways.”

The Reaction: Applause and Debate

Predictably, the announcement sparked a storm of reactions online. Fans, celebrities, and fellow athletes flooded social media with praise.

Serena Williams commented on Reese’s post with a simple fire emoji. WNBA star A’ja Wilson reposted the video on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“We ain’t just athletes. We angels too. Proud of you sis!”

Sports fans applauded Reese for breaking new ground. “She’s redefining what it means to be a WNBA star,” one user wrote. “This is history in heels.”

But not all reactions were supportive. A handful of critics questioned whether participating in a lingerie fashion show aligns with the values of women’s sports.

Reese, however, has faced such criticism before — and has always had an answer ready.

“I’m not changing who I am to make people comfortable,” she said in a recent interview. “I’m proud of my body, proud of my femininity, and proud of being a woman in sports. I work hard for everything I have, and I deserve to celebrate it.”

The Woman Behind the Wings

Those close to Reese say the historic moment is deeply personal.

“She’s worked for everything she has — nothing has been handed to her,” said her mother, Angel Reese Sr., herself a former basketball player. “Seeing her up there, walking with confidence, is just another reminder that she’s unstoppable.”

Reese’s younger brother, Julian, who plays for the University of Maryland, echoed the sentiment. “She’s been breaking barriers since high school. This is just another one.”

In fact, Reese’s nickname, Bayou Barbie, originated during her LSU days — a playful nod to her love of makeup, fashion, and on-court ferocity. What started as a moniker became a personal brand, one that now extends from sneaker deals to runway appearances.

A Night to Remember

The 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is expected to be a global spectacle, returning to its traditional live format in New York City. This year’s theme reportedly focuses on “Empowered Angels,” blending high fashion, performance, and storytelling to highlight women who have made an impact in culture and sport.

Reese is rumored to be walking in a custom-designed ensemble that merges athletic elements with classic Victoria’s Secret glamour — a visual nod to her dual identity as both competitor and cultural icon.

Sources close to the show say her segment will include a tribute to women in sports, with Reese leading a diverse cast of models in an empowering finale number.

“She’s not just walking for herself,” one producer said. “She’s walking for every woman who’s ever been told she couldn’t be strong and beautiful at the same time.”

Legacy in the Making

From NCAA champion to WNBA star, from fashion model to cultural icon, Angel Reese continues to prove that her impact extends far beyond the basketball court.

Her Victoria’s Secret debut is more than a personal milestone — it’s a cultural statement about the power of women athletes to command space in every arena, from sports to style.

“I want little girls to see me and know they can do it all,” Reese said. “You don’t have to fit in a box. You can be powerful, athletic, beautiful, smart — everything. You can be your own kind of angel.”

As she prepares to take her historic walk down the runway, one thing is certain: Angel Reese isn’t just making history — she’s rewriting what it means to be a modern-day role model.

And when the lights go up at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on October 15, the world won’t just see a basketball star. They’ll see a woman with wings — and the power to inspire millions to spread their own.