USA (Commonwealth Union)_ Indian models Ravleen Varghese and Neelam Gill walked the ramp at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2026, marking a proud moment for the Indian fashion industry. Varghese was making her debut at the high-profile event, while Gill was making her return for a third year, demonstrating the rising dominance of Indian talent on the global fashion stage. The event was held this month at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California, and featured top models, including Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Adriana Lima, and Candice Swanepoel. Known for its elaborate wings, glamorous outfits and star-studded audience, the event once again brought together some of the biggest names in the global fashion industry.
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Ravleen Varghese: From Kerala to global catwalks
The show marked an important milestone in 25-year-old Ravleen Varghese’s modeling career. Hailing from Kodumon in Kerala, she walked the ramp twice in two different outfits. Her first look was pink lace lingerie, while the second mixed black and white. Varghese’s modeling career started unexpectedly. At 18, she moved to Delhi to study design at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). Although modelling was not part of her original career plan, she was picked by Anima Creative Management, which helped her enter the industry.
Since then she has worked on fashion, beauty and editorial projects. Her career gained momentum with her debut at New York Fashion Week in 2022. She has also worked with international labels and Indian designer Sabyasachi, consistently establishing her presence outside India. Her appearance at Victoria’s Secret is another feather in her cap and a moment of pride for the Indian fashion industry.
Neelam Gill: Making her mark once again
British-Indian model Neelam Gill returned for the 2026 show, marking her third consecutive appearance after also taking part in the 2024 and 2025 editions. Gill was born in England on 27 April 1995 to Sikh parents from Punjab, India. She began modeling at the age of 13. She signed with NEXT Model Management at 14 and quickly moved towards international recognition. At just 18, Neelam Gill made history as the first Indian model to feature in a Burberry campaign during London Fashion Week. Since then, she has worked with several big names in fashion, including Dior, Kanye West and Rohit Bal, while also appearing in campaigns for Abercrombie & Fitch and L’Oréal Paris. For this year’s show, Gill embraced Indian-inspired fashion in an outfit featuring pink and gold embellishments, gold body chains and a colourful embroidered skirt. Bright orange hoop earrings completed her striking look.
The show also marked Kylie Jenner’s runway debut for the brand, where she wore a $50 million Fantasy Bra designed in collaboration with Jacob & Co. The event was further livened up by performances from KATSEYE, Tate McRae, Megan Thee Stallion and Megan Moroney. Together, Varghese and Gill represent different stages of an international modelling journey. Their achievements reflect the growing visibility of Indian and Indian-origin talent, making their success a proud moment for India’s fashion industry.
