Victoria's Secret Fashion Show goes off without hitch – but with plenty of feathers
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Selena Gomez looked fabulous as she confidently rocked out during a 20th annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show that had veteran runway walkers like Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima blowing kisses to the crowd.
Gomez, a buddy of previous Victoria's Secret show musical performers like Taylor Swift, along with some of the walkers, performed on the splashy stage with her dancers as models walked, as did The Weeknd and Ellie Goulding.
"I don't know if I could be an angel, I'm not gonna lie," Gomez joked. "I look at how hard they work. I like fried food too much – I don't know if I could give that up."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tuesday night was just the taping of Victoria’s Secret sexpot angel time that had newbie angels like Martha Hunt and Elsa Hosk join the veterans on stage for the show’s 20th anniversary. Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid were among the non-winged super-models new to the glitzy show, which generates weeks of advance buzz and will be seen in 192 countries by more than 500 million people, according to company officials.
Lima, marking her 16th year as an angel, said the nerves leading up to each show never really go away.
"It's a little bit tough after so many years because the girls are so beautiful and I have to keep up with them," laughed the 34-year-old mother of two. "I work out as much as I can, and you know, I feel great ... I feel wonderful in my skin."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hadid said backstage that she has big respect for the veteran angels and hopes to earn her own wings one day. Brand new angel Rachel Hilbert, from Rochester, New York, was in the Pink USA squad on the runway, and was also in awe of the longtime ladies, including Brazilian beauty Lima, seated just inches away on a comfy white couch in rollers backstage.
"Uh, yeah, Adriana Lima. She's sitting right there," Hilbert smiled as all wore pink-and-white striped robes, curlers in their hair, while manicures, pedicures, spray tanning and makeup commenced. "She's such a sweetheart. Her advice was just breathe and take it in."
The show featured sections of '60s boho angels flashing peace signs in teeny bras and panties, swinging fringe and showing off wings made of sculptured paper, leather and feathers, including Jenner. Her gal pal Hadid was among a group of exotic butterflies with wings and outfits sparkling with crystals. The patriotic pink group included an American-flagged theme outfit and wings.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}This year's iteration of the annual Fantasy Bra was fashioned in bursts of fireworks, the theme for one of the liveliest sections of the show. The demi-bra and matching belt are worth $2 million and were worn by Aldridge. They were created by the jewelry company Mouawad in 18-karat gold and encrusted with 6,500 diamonds, blue topaz, yellow sapphires and other precious stones.
Hunt was the last firework, closing the show in another centerpiece item, courtesy of Swarovski, one of the evening's sponsors. It was a corset sparkling with 90,000 gold, red, green and blue crystals. The look, along with her light-up wings, included 20,000 crystals and 1,200 battery-powered LED lights. The battery pack she lugged weighed in at 19 pounds.
"I did practice ... with a trainer. I wore a weighted vest and walked back and forth in high heels," she said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hunt's last meal before hitting the makeup chair was eggs. She promised her first after the show would be: "Pizza ... Pizza is one of my favorite foods. Pizza and pasta."
The telecast of the runway show will air Dec. 8 on CBS.
Based on reporting by the Associated Press.
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