Bella Hadid delighted fans by making her surprise return to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York City.
The supermodel—who hasn’t participated in the catwalk extravaganza since the brand’s last televised show, in 2018—emerged in the midst of Cher’s musical performance, looking like the epitome of glamour in a red-hot lace bra and underwear set. For some extra oomph, she eschewed the traditional angel wings for a massive furry jacket that trailed on the floor behind her.
For the final bow, Hadid later reemerged alongside sister Gigi Hadid and the rest of the Angels, shedding her shaggy coat for a slinky red dressing robe.
Hadid is among several former Victoria’s Secret Angels who came forward with reports of being sexually harassed by then–chief marketing officer Ed Razek, which were made public in a 2020 investigation by The New York Times. Razek denied the allegations, later resigning from his position at L Brands, former parent company of Victoria’s Secret.
In 2021, Hadid returned to the brand as one of its VS Collective ambassadors, joining stars like Priyanka Chopra and Megan Rapinoe as representatives of a revamped brand that promised to embrace diversity, female empowerment, and size inclusivity.
“What magnetized me to coming back was them coming to me and really proving to me that, behind the scenes, Victoria’s Secret has changed so drastically,” Hadid told Marie Claire in 2021 of her decision to work with the brand again. “There was a type of way that, I think, a lot of us women who used to work with Victoria’s Secret felt. And now, six of the seven [VS] board members are all female. And there’s new photo shoot protocols that we have. So a lot has changed. I feel like the world really deserves a brand like Victoria’s Secret and to also feel represented by it as well.”