It’s the most wonderful time of the year – if you’re a lingerie lover, that is.
The annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is one of the most celebrated A-list events in the calendar, but such a reputation doesn’t come easy; in fact, it takes a lot more work than many people might expect.
This fact is evidenced in a series of images taken backstage at this year’s show capturing the immense amount of effort made to get the models looking their best before they step out onto the runway.
Ready to roll! Bella Hadid was pictured posing very provocatively in her bra and a skimpy pink robe as she prepared for this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai
Strike a pose: The 21-year-old also shared several very risque shots of herself on Snapchat
Woah nelly: Bella is appearing in this year’s show without her sister Gigi, who dropped out at the last minute amid speculation she was denied a visa by the Chinese government
Work, work, work: Angel Alessandra Ambrosio, 36, was also seen being tended to by a make-up artist, following reports that this year’s show will be her last
Expert: Veteran Angel Lily Aldridge shared this selfie as she prepared for her turn on the catwalk
Stunner: Alessandra posted a video of herself having her make-up done on Instagram, happily smiling and laughing while an artist worked on her face
Something funny? The model covered up a little bit more than some of her fellow Angels, wearing a pair of white trousers with her skimpy embroidered robe
Posers! Lily was seen snapping a selfie with Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing – who collaborated with the brand on several pieces being worn in the show – and fellow model Sara Sampaio
Do blondes have more fun? Romee Strijd, 22, also happily posed for a picture backstage as she waited to have her hair and make-up finished before slipping into her runway ensemble
Some of the brand’s most popular Angels, including Alessandra Ambrosio, Lily Aldridge, and Romee Strijd, were spotted being attended to by a team of hairstylists and make-up artists while they chilled out backstage in their iconic pink Victoria’s Secret robes – which are worn by the models each year as a kind of pre-show uniform.
Alessandra, 36, was seen deep in conversation with her make-up artist – perhaps discussing whether or not she will return to the famous fashion show next year, after it was reported earlier this week that she plans to retire after taking to the catwalk to strut her stuff in this year’s show.
Remarkably this will be Alessandra’s 17th Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, making her one of the most-used models in the brand’s history.
Clearly keen to remember the show either way, Alessandra happily shared several images of herself backstage, posting them to her Instagram account to give her fans a sneak peek at her look.
Her close friend and fellow expert Angel Lily, 32, also shared several images on social media, snapping a selfie while wearing her silk robe, and simply captioning it: ‘Here we go!’
Natural beauty: Sudanese model Grace Bol will be making her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut this year
Something different: Models Samile Bermannelli and Alecia Morais will be showcasing some of the pieces from the PINK collection, and were given different lingerie and robes to wear
New friend? The beauties posed with a fun stuffed dog – the logo for PINK – as they showed off some fun velvet bras and panties backstage
However, while there were a host of famous faces seen prepping for the hotly-anticipated event, there were several stars missing from the action, including model Gigi Hadid, who was reportedly denied a visa by the Chinese government after a video surfaced of her earlier this year in which she appeared to ‘mock Asian people’.
The 22-year-old model, who was slated to walk the runway with her sister Bella Hadid, took to Twitter on Thursday morning to say that she won’t be traveling to China to do the show.
‘I’m so bummed I won’t be able to make it to China this year,’ she wrote. ‘Love my VS family, and will be with all my girls in spirit!! Can’t wait to tune in with everyone to see the beautiful show I know it will be, and already can’t wait for next year!’
In September, furious Chinese people warned the supermodel not to attend this year’s show in Shangai, leaving thousands of angry comments calling for the brand, and the country, to boycott Gigi.
The model did not specifically reveal why she pulled out of the show, although it was recently reported that some models were having trouble getting their Chinese visas approved.
Fashionista reported that four models, Julia Belyakova, Kate Grigorieva and Irina Sharipova from Russia and Dasha Khlystun from Ukraine, had allegedly been denied visas, according to Instagram fan accounts.
Instagram user @VSModelSpain posted a screenshot of a Dasha confirming that she will not be walking in the show this year via an Instagram Direct Message.
Although there was no mention of Gigi having issues with her visa, Chinese fans have been demanding that she be denied entry into the country because of her ‘racist’ video.
Over the weekend, the models kept their social media following apprised of the run-up to the hotly-anticipated extravaganza.
Romee posted anInstagram photo Sunday of herself in a lacy black bra and tight matching jeans.
The Zoetermeer-born blonde wore a black choker with a couple of glinting beaded necklaces, aiming her best smoldering stare at the camera.
‘Getting in the mood for tomorrow’s lingerie event of the century, so excited for my outfits and the runway, can’t wait for you all to see soon! Let’s do this,’ she captioned, adding ‘@victoriassecret’ and an exploding emoji before ‘#vsfashionshow2017’.
Josephine Skriver, a 24-year-old Copenhagen native who like Romee is a Victoria’s Secret Angel, uploaded a Sunday photo of herself strutting outdoors in town.
Posing up a storm: Romee Strijd, a 22-year-old Victoria’s Secret Angel, posted an Instagram photo of herself on Sunday in Shanghai, the day before the brand’s fashion show there
‘rehearsal time’: Josephine Skriver, a 24-year-old Copenhagen native who like Romee is a Victoria’s Secret Angel, uploaded a Sunday photo of herself strutting outdoors in Shanghai
‘love her’: After that, Josephine popped yet another photo onto her Instagram page, this one of her with her fellow Victoria’s Secret Angel Lily Aldridge, 32
She wrote in her caption that it was ‘rehearsal time!! practice makes perfect’.
Her hair swept back into a tightly-wound updo, she had draped a black coat over a raven-colored cleavage-baring top and a floral miniskirt.
Tassels fringed her hemline, which was cut off around mid-thigh to showcase her knockout legs, and she wore black boots that stretched up past her knees.
Beanie loyalty: Lily herself, who posted the same photo with Josephine, also uploaded what appeared to be a selfie in which she pouted under evocative purple lighting
After that, Josephine popped yet another photo onto her Instagram page, this one of her with her fellow Victoria’s Secret Angel Lily Aldridge, 32.
The pair were wrapped in matching flowery robes, and Josephine wrapped her arms affectionately about her colleague, the pair of them beaming for the camera.
Josephine effervesced in her caption: ‘love her. love her. love her,’ popping in an emoji of two hearts and then: ‘@lilyaldridge #vsfashionshow’.
Glam in Gucci: Elsa Hosk, whose blonde hair has been cropped at about shoulder length, has posed for a wide-eyed selfie she threw onto her Instagram page this Sunday
Hello, gorgeous: She wore a pink Gucci T-shirt – which she had tucked into royal purple trousers that were themselves tucked into thigh-high pink boots, as seen on her Instagram
Lily herself, who posted the same photo with Josephine, also uploaded what appeared to be a selfie in which she pouted under evocative purple lighting.
She had bundled up in a black turtlenecked sweater, loyally accenting the ensemble with a black and white Victoria Sport beanie.
Elsa Hosk, whose blonde hair has been cropped at about shoulder length, has posed for a wide-eyed selfie she threw onto her Instagram page this Sunday.
Beautiful on The Bund: Sara Sampaio, a 26-year-old VIctoria’s Secret Angel from Portugal, posted a photo of herself flinging up a peace sign in front of a view of the Shanghai skyline
Lounging: Sara since posted a photo of herself lying down beside Georgia Fowler (right), who is not an Angel but who will be walking Monday’s fashion show
The 29-year-old Swede wore a pink Gucci T-shirt – which she had tucked into royal purple trousers that were themselves tucked into thigh-high pink boots.
That whole outfit was on display in another photo Elsa posted, which saw her posing up a storm outdoors near an elegant stone planter.
Sara Sampaio, a 26-year-old VIctoria’s Secret Angel from Porto, Portugal, posted a photo of herself flinging up a peace sign in front of a view of the Shanghai skyline.
Company: Candice Swanepoel tagged Victoria’s Secret senior creative Ed Razek, as well as photographer Russell James, in the snapshot she posted
She wore a GIA hoodie and stood on – as her location was tagged – The Bund, a waterfront on the west bank of the Huangpu River.
She since posted a photo of herself lying down beside Georgia Fowler, who is not an Angel but who will be walking Monday’s fashion show.
Sara was dressed in a chic white blouse, whilst Georgia showed off her enviably trim midriff in a black crop top she wore with glistening rings and earrings.
Candice Swanepoel tagged Victoria’s Secret senior creative Ed Razek, as well as photographer Russell James, in the snapshot she posted.
‘Rehearsal’: Bella Hadid posted a two-photo album of herself in which she modeled loose-fitting black boots and indoors, illuminated by strips of purple light overhead
The Mooi River-born model, named a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2010, wore a pink wrap and had part of her hair lopsidedly bundled up.
‘Baby C by @russelljames #backstagesecrets @victoriassecret @ed_razek,’ wrote Candice in the caption to the Sunday upload.
On Monday, Candice will make her triumphal return to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which has never happened in Shanghai before.
The trilingual model took last year’s extravaganza off, having delivered her firstborn child – a son called Anacã – the month prior.
There’s that pout: Her Instagram Story has featured footage of her in that same outfit, mugging for the camera as she looked down at it amid all that evocative lighting
Bella Hadid posted a two-photo album of herself in which she modeled loose-fitting black boots and indoors, illuminated by strips of purple light overhead.
‘Rehearsal,’ the 21-year-old began a lengthy caption, going on: ‘Feeling so grateful…The energy of the girls, the team, backstage / front stage, the incredible fans were so beautifully intense and motivating. I can’t wait for tomorrow’.
‘All of my girls completely rocked it today & it makes me smile thinking about how hard every single person- models, stylists, look designers, the lights, the music, backstage, front stage etc worked to prepare-so many months in advance-such a huge, almost unbelievable production…and now it’s finally happening!’ she gushed.
There it is again: In a more brightly-lit selfie upload, she wore a black sleeveless top and offered a classic supermodel pout, her head surrounded by cartoon hearts
‘TOPOFTHEMORNINGTOYA’: Not long after, a picture of her in the ‘rehearsal’ look cropped up on her Instagram Story, framed by glowing pink squiggly lines
Bella closed out: ‘Thank you to everyone involved for putting in blood sweat and tears .. this show is going to be,’ popping in an emoji with hearts for eyes.
Her Instagram Story has featured footage of her in that same outfit, mugging for the camera as she looked down at it amid all that evocative lighting.
In a more brightly-lit selfie upload, she wore a black sleeveless top and offered a classic supermodel pout, her head surrounded by cartoon hearts.
Not long after, a picture of her in the ‘rehearsal’ look cropped up on her Instagram Story, framed by glowing pink squiggly lines and captioned: ‘TOPOFTHEMORNINGTOYA.’
‘Backstage’: Taylor Hill, a 21-year-old Victoria’s Secret Angel from Illinois, posted a couple of selfie videos to her Instagram Story showing the behind-the-scenes process
‘You don’t wanna – yeah, let’s cover the wing in the back,’ Alessandra conceded.
Initially, Bella’s elder sister and fellow internationally famous model was Gigi Hadid was also slated to walk the show – but she tweeted last week that she ‘won’t be able to make it to China this year.’
Gigi declined to publicize the reason for her absence, but the rumor mill has been churning out chatter that she was unable to get a visa to enter China.
If so, goes this line of gossip, it is possible she wound up in this this predicament because in February, she was accused of racism after she pulled at the skin beside her eyes to imitate a Buddha cookie on social media.
Featured: One video Taylor posted co-starred 36-year-old Erechim-born Victoria’s Secret Angel Alessandra Ambrosio, who wore a simple top with a serrated neckline
Taylor Hill, a 21-year-old Victoria’s Secret Angel from Illinois, posted a couple of selfie videos to her Instagram Story showing the behind-the-scenes process.
Her hair was gathered up into a bun as she informed the viewers: ‘I am backstage, rehearsing. I would show you around, but I can’t, because there’s wings back here and I feel like I would get in trouble, so…yeah…,’ she trailed off with a smile.
The next video Taylor posted co-starred 36-year-old Erechim-born Victoria’s Secret Angel Alessandra Ambrosio, who wore a simple top with a serrated neckline.
Animated accessories: Taylor’s filter had given them both gold-colored cartoon wreaths round their heads, which Alessandra noted ‘kinda goes with that wing in the back’
Taylor’s filter had given them both gold-colored animated wreaths round their heads, which Alessandra noted ‘kinda goes with that wing in the back.’
Gesturing at a pair of false wings that did, indeed, nicely complement the wreaths, Alessandra encouraged viewers: ‘Look at that wing in the back.’
Young gun Taylor, on the other hand, was a bit more circumspect, quickly chiming in: ‘Don’t look at the wing in the back!’
Meanwhile, Angel Martha Hunt posted a selfie offering her gratitude to facialist Georgia Louise for the latter’s work on the former.
Maestra at work: Meanwhile, Angel Martha Hunt posted a selfie offering her gratitude to facialist Georgia Louise for the latter’s work on the former