In what can only be described as a fashion-and-sports crossover moment for the style books, 23-year-old WNBA star Angel Reese made her runway debut at the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, stepping into the iconic “wings” and rewriting expectations in the process.
Hoops to Heels
Reese, who is a forward for the Chicago Sky and former NCAA standout, emerged onto the runway in a look that exuded both femininity and strength: a pink floral lingerie set with lace detail, paired with a dramatic feathered stole and the signature white angel wings. She is officially the first professional athlete ever to walk in a Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
What stands out is not just the visual of a 6′3″ basketball star in lingerie and wings, but what that image signifies: a breaking down of silos between athleticism and fashion glamour, between the sport world and the high-gloss runway. With a modelling coach in tow and after paying attention to the likes of Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, and Adriana Lima (whom she studied for her walk), she made that transition look deliberate.
A New Era of Angels
Reese’s moment comes at a time when the Victoria’s Secret brand is clearly undergoing a reinvention. This year’s show featured not only big-name supermodels but also athletes, plus-size models, a pregnant model opening the show, and a broader age, size, and height range. Her arrival on stage speaks to that shift: representation defined not only by traditional runway norms, but by presence, personality, and crossover appeal.
Her Fashion Era Begins
On the aesthetic front, Reese’s choice was both homage and disruption. Lingerie typically associated with the fantasy of the “Angel” was re-worn on the body of an athlete whose strength and stature challenge the conceit of what lingerie models “should” look like. Her styling—soft glam makeup, long limbs, confident stance—didn’t mute her identity as an athlete; instead, it amplified a new kind of glamour where muscle meets lace and championships meet catwalks. And she was dressed magnificently, next to big names like Jasmine Tookes (the model who walked the first look, and she is nine months pregnant) and returning model legends such as Adriana Lima and Candice Swanepoel.
Beyond the Wings
Beyond the added embellishment of wings and lights, this moment matters for a few reasons:
- Cultural shift: The inclusion of an athlete into a predominantly fashion-focused event suggests brands no longer etch such a division between sport, fashion, and celebrity.
- Body & identity politics: Reese’s tall and athletic figure contrasts many expectations runways embody, but in here she is visible and celebrated.
- Manifestation and ambition: Reese herself posted on Instagram last year that she would be on this runway, and now she was. Her preparation mirrored her sport mindset: train, perfect, perform.
- Consumer relevance: As lingerie and fashion marketing evolve, audiences increasingly demand authenticity, diversity, and cross-industry intersections. Reese’s appearance sends a message to younger women: you can dominate on the court and walk in fine lace; you needn’t pick one identity.
The Future Is Runway-Ready
For Reese, this runway chapter may well be a launchpad—whether into further fashion work, branding opportunities, or a continued hybrid presence in sport and style. For the brand, this signals a reimagined “Angel” ethos: one that embraces all heights, all bodies, and all backgrounds.
From the lens of fashion journalism, the 2025 show may well be remembered as the one where the wings became a symbol not just of fantasy but of permutation, where the athletic and the aesthetic merged under runway lights. Angel Reese transformed the concept of sneakers into heels and wings, thereby subtly redefining the meaning of “Angel” in 2025.
The mould shattered. The lights hit. And Angel Reese took flight.
