Gigi Hadid stuns opening Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 after six-year hiatus

Rocking the iconic ‘Angel, wings, Gigi Hadid opened the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion show as it made its triumphant return on Tuesday night.

Airing live on Amazon’s Prime Video, the iconic runway show was held at the  Victoria’s Secret flagship store in New York City after a six-year hiatus.

The 2024 show also saw the return of Victoria’s Secret vets Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima as well as next generation icons Taylor Hill and Barbara Palvin.

Cher served as the night’s headlining performer along with Blackpink alum Lisa and rising star Tyla — marking the show’s first-ever, all-woman musical lineup.

It comes three years after the lingerie brand’s controversial ‘woke’ body-positive rebrand in 2021.

Victoria’s Secret’s iconic Angels were replaced by ‘ambassadors’ like soccer star Megan Rapinoe and the company axed its longtime CEO in wake of falling sales and a bombshell expose that accused the company of misogyny, sexual harassment and bullying.

Rocking the iconic ‘Angel, wings, Gigi Hadid opened the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion show as it made its triumphant return on Tuesday night

Airing live on Amazon's Prime Video , the iconic runway show was held at the Victoria's Secret flagship store in New York City after a six-year hiatus

Airing live on Amazon’s Prime Video , the iconic runway show was held at the Victoria’s Secret flagship store in New York City after a six-year hiatus

Lisa kicked off the show with an ultra sexy performance of her hit Rockstar, which saw her ride into the venue on a motorcycle as models got hyped up backstage.

Surrounded by leather-clad dancers, the singer, 27, flashed her toned tummy in a black vinyl bra shaped like angel wings.

It was styled with a chainmail shrug and micro shorts.

Lisa’s delivered elaborate choreography under pink stage lights on the massive catwalk. 

Gigi Hadid opened the legendary show — which first aired in 1995 — wearing pastel pink wings and a glittering pink costume.

Her short blonde hair was tucked bind her ears, allowing her to show off her sparkly hoop earrings. 

The model, 29, strutted her stuff to a fun mash-up of Chappell Roan’s hits Femininomenon and Charli XCX’s viral single 360.

Coming out of six-year retirement, Adriana Lima made her highly-anticipated runway return on Tuesday night.

Gigi Hadid opened the legendary show — which first aired in 1995 — wearing pastel pink wings and a glittering pink costume

Gigi Hadid opened the legendary show — which first aired in 1995 — wearing pastel pink wings and a glittering pink costume

The model, 29, strutted her stuff to a fun mash-up of Chappell Roan's hits Femininomenon and Charli XCX's viral single 360

The model, 29, strutted her stuff to a fun mash-up of Chappell Roan’s hits Femininomenon and Charli XCX’s viral single 360

Coming out of six-year retirement, Adriana Lima made her highly-anticipated runway return on Tuesday night

Coming out of six-year retirement, Adriana Lima made her highly-anticipated runway return on Tuesday night

Walking to the beat of Chappell Roan's Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl, the Brazilian beauty made jaws drop in a glittery pink and blank plaid bodysuit and pink holographic wings

Walking to the beat of Chappell Roan’s Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl, the Brazilian beauty made jaws drop in a glittery pink and blank plaid bodysuit and pink holographic wings

Gigi and Adriana's section of the show also saw the return of Victoria's Secret vet Doutzen Kroes

The 39-year-old looked angelic wearing silver metallic wings and a tiny pastel pink bra and panty set

Gigi and Adriana’s section of the show also saw the return of Victoria’s Secret vet Doutzen Kroes

Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, 26, wowed the crowd in a skimpy iridescent bodysuit that showcased her enviably flat tummy and endless legs

Leonardo DiCaprio’s girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, 26, wowed the crowd in a skimpy iridescent bodysuit that showcased her enviably flat tummy and endless legs

Taylor Hill dazzled in a crystal-covered bra and loose pants with wings covered in beaded tassels

Taylor Hill dazzled in a crystal-covered bra and loose pants with wings covered in beaded tassels

Walking to the beat of Chappell Roan’s Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl, the Brazilian beauty made jaws drop in a glittery pink and blank plaid bodysuit and pink holographic wings. 

Her look also consisted of a skimpy sparkly black bra and thong underwear.

Her hair was worn in a high ponytail as she playfully blew a kiss at the camera.

Gigi and Adriana’s section also saw the return of Victoria’s Secret vet Doutzen Kroes.

The 39-year-old looked angelic wearing silver metallic wings and a tiny pastel pink bra and panty set. 

Taylor Hill dazzled in a crystal-covered bra and loose pants with wings covered in beaded tassels. 

Next, Tyla graced the runway for her jaw-dropping performance. She was clad in an ultra busty silver and gold look with dramatic white feather wings.

Victoria’s Secret favorite Candice Swanepoel also made her long-awaited catwalk return.

The blonde beauty left very little to the imagination in a sparkly bra and thong underwear.

It was styled with wings that spelled out ‘Victoria’s Secret’ in elegant cursive lettering. 

Kate Moss’ look-alike daughter Lila made her Victoria’s Secret debut alongside Candice and Leonardo DiCaprio’s model girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti.

Vittoria wowed the crowd in a skimpy iridescent bodysuit that showcased her enviably flat tummy and endless legs.

The next section of the show had a sexy ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ theme that opened with legendary 90s supermodel Kate Moss.

The 50-year-old sizzled in black feather wings and a sheer, black lace dress over a skimpy bodysuit.

The blonde beauty smoldered as she made the long trek down the runway in sky-high heels.

Hours before storming the 2024 catwalk, the models allowed cameras backstage as hairstylists and makeup artists transformed them from bare-faced beauties to full-glam vixens.

The iconic ’90s show announced it was returning in May after a four-year hiatus.

The fashion show was canceled in 2019 after dealing with bad ratings and a whole slew of wild controversies, and has since made an effort to become more inclusive.

Victoria’s Secret announced the major news with an Instagram post, promising the 2024 show would ‘reflect who we are today, plus everything you know and love—the glamour, runway, wings, musical entertainment.’

The popular early aughts mall brand previously returned with a ‘reimagined’ Victoria’s Secret World Tour Prime show in 2023 that was not well received – people called the show boring.

Many former fans watching at home called for the return of former Victoria’s Secret Angels like Gisele Bündchen, Heidi Klum, Molly Sims, Tyra Banks, Adriana Lima and more.

That was far from the biggest issue with the brand, as Victoria’s Secret has dealt with multiple controversies over the last few years.

In 2020, a bombshell report in The New York Times claimed that Victoria’s Secret owner Les Wexner mocked the retail industry’s efforts to champion women of different body types.

The Times interviewed more than 30 executives, employees, contractors and models, and looked at court filings to find a toxic culture of sexual harassment.

Employees said Wexner mocked the retail industry’s efforts to embrace a variety of body types by allegedly saying, ‘Nobody goes to a plastic surgeon and says, ‘Make me fat.’

Wexner was said to also berate employees about their weight, including fat shaming an employee for getting seconds at a buffet.

After the backlash, the lingerie company rebranded in an effort to appeal to Gen Z and named new brand ambassadors, including soccer player Megan Rapinoe and transgender model Valentina Sampaio.

Ahead of the 2024 show, fans flocked to to beg Victoria’s Secret to return to their glamorous roots.

Despite the brand’s assurances that this year’s show would ‘reflect who we are today, plus everything you know and love,’ one woman started a social media firestorm when she tweeted, ‘Victoria’s Secret fashion show is tomorrow and I hope they bring back THIS fashion show with the femininity, glamour, glitter and girl power! I don’t want to see none of that political woke stuff.’

Many people agreed, and the tweet on X (formerly Twitter) received more than 4,200 retweets.

‘And girl power! None of that woke stuff,’ someone else wrote.

However, some called her out in the comments, with one writing, ‘Y’all just want the skinny back LMAO,’ and others saying, ‘God I wish I could be this willfully ignorant LIKE.’

Hours before storming the 2024 catwalk, the models — including Gigi Hadid — allowed cameras backstage as hairstylists and makeup artists transformed them from bare-faced beauties to full-glam vixen

Hours before storming the 2024 catwalk, the models — including Gigi Hadid — allowed cameras backstage as hairstylists and makeup artists transformed them from bare-faced beauties to full-glam vixen

Victoria's Secret veteran Alessandra Ambrosio — who last walked the show in 2018 — was seen backstage in the iconic pink and white robe

Victoria’s Secret veteran Alessandra Ambrosio — who last walked the show in 2018 — was seen backstage in the iconic pink and white robe

Adriana Lima — who returned to the Victoria's Secret catwalk after a six-year retirement — caught up on her texts during her time in the hair and makeup chair

Adriana Lima — who returned to the Victoria’s Secret catwalk after a six-year retirement — caught up on her texts during her time in the hair and makeup chair

Plus-size model Ashley Graham looked sensational in a black strapless bra as her glam squad put the finishing touches on her hair and makeup

Plus-size model Ashley Graham looked sensational in a black strapless bra as her glam squad put the finishing touches on her hair and makeup

Others claimed that VS hasn’t been the same since Rihanna started Savage x Fenty lingerie and ‘stole the show’ with her own A-list approved runway which was much more inclusive.

Another critic tweeted, ‘tomorrow is Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show! It was canceled in 2019 for woke reasons, now they’re back. Always loved to watch it, as it shows what is possible. Nature is healing.’

On Reddit, many fashionistas were more concerned at the idea that famed VS Angels would be replaced by nepo babies and influencers.

‘I expect it to be a bunch of nepo babies clunking around in their underpants,’ one Reddit user declared.

On the same Reddit thread someone wrote, ‘I don’t see the point, tbh; their stuff is a lot lower quality than it used to be. I hope there won’t be any influencers walking.’

‘Sponsored by Ozempic,’ a commenter snarked, as another person agreed, ‘This is what I was thinking. They waited for the plus size models ‘trend’ to end and the show is coming back.’

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