It’s no secret that Victoria’s Secret models are taller than the average woman in America. But how tall are Victoria’s Secret models? Over the years, these models, or “angels” as they’re also known, have represented the idea of beauty for many years.
It’s no wonder why people are fascinated by the requirements to be one, especially the height requirements. The Victoria’s Secret fashion show is one of the most talked-about events in the fashion world, making the brand itself even more notorious.
The road to becoming a Victoria’s Secret model starts with a minimum height requirement. But if you think that being tall will automatically land you a spot on the runway, you’d be wrong. Victoria’s Secret models undergo rigorous requirements apart from their height expectations.
So, if you’re a tall person yourself or just curious about the models’ height, keep reading to find out more.
How Did Victoria’s Secret Get So Famous?
Let’s start at the beginning. Where did Victoria’s Secret come from, and what’s it all about?
Victoria’s Secret was founded by Roy Raymond in 1977. According to Business Insider, Raymond wanted to create a lingerie company that made lingerie shopping easy for men.
The name was drawn from the Victorian era in England, as Raymond wanted to express a reimagination of this period in lingerie. The brand shifted its focus to women and did so well at solidifying itself as a brand that in 1995, they began the now world-famous Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
The Models Became a Key Part of the Brand
The team behind the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show hand-picked their models. With the success of these shows, walking that runway helped make the careers of many now-famous models, such as Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum.
The show itself became an extravagant event with supermodels wearing beautiful lingerie and huge angel wings.
The models, or “angels,” quickly became a big part of popular culture, each with their own following. So, along with the public having their favorite models and tuning in to the show every year, many people find themselves asking, how tall are Victoria’s Secret models?
How Tall Are Victoria Secret Models?
Victoria’s Secret fashion models are known for being taller than the average size of an American woman, which means they surpass 5 foot 4 inches. Those below that height are actually classed as petite women.
The average size of a Victoria’s Secret angel (model) is 5 foot 10 inches.
The ideal height to be a model for this company falls between 5 foot 8 inches and 6 feet — anyone below the minimum height requirement will simply not be considered. Although this may be disappointing for smaller women, it’s a big advantage for tall women!
According to the Chief Marketing Officer of the company, Edward Razik, fewer than 100 women worldwide have the potential to be a Victoria’s Secret model.
If the spectacle of the fashion shows and glamor of the model lifestyle wasn’t enough to catch everyone’s attention, those who can qualify as a model come from a small pool of people, adding to the world’s fascination with them. So, fellow tall people, you’re part of a special minority!
Heights of Victoria’s Secret Models
Now that you know how tall you need to be to walk with these beautiful models, let’s look at the heights of famous women that have walked the renowned runway. The following list looks at models, starting with the tallest down to the shortest:
- Lais Ribeiro: 6 foot 1 inch
- Gisele Bündchen: 5 foot 11 inches
- Adriana Lima: 5 foot 10 inches
- Estelle Chen: 5 foot 10 inches
- Alessandra Ambrosio: 5 foot 10 inches
- Behati Prinsloo: 5 foot 10 inches
- Gigi Hadid: 5 foot 10 inches
- Candice Swanepoel: 5 foot 9 and a half inches
- Elsa Hosk: 5 foot 9 and a half inches
- Heidi Klum: 5 foot 9 inches
- Jasmine Tookes: 5 foot 9 inches
- One Wang: 5 foot 9 inches
Source: Vogue Australia
Celebrities Who Could Be Victoria’s Secret Models
It’s easy to guess which celebrities are fellow tall people — they’re usually the ones walking down a catwalk or on the basketball court. But not all tall people work in these professions. Other celebrities with above-average heights may surprise you.
Taylor Swift is famous for her popular music career as a singer, songwriter, and musician. When she’s featured in the press or snapped on social media, you may have noticed that she’s pretty tall. In fact, it has been reported that Taylor Swift is 5 feet 11 inches which makes her taller than a lot of Victoria’s Secret models.
Do many female celebrities stand taller than 6 feet? Actress Famke Janssen (who has played roles in X-Men) is a taller-than-average woman standing at 6 feet exactly. But, we can go even taller than that: fellow actress Elizabeth Debicki (who will play Princess Diana in the fifth season of The Crown) is 6 foot 3 inches tall.
Keeping to a regal theme, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, is 5 foot 9 inches tall.
Can you imagine seeing these famous women walk the infamous Victoria’s Secret fashion show runway?
Other Victoria’s Secret Model Requirements
Your requirements for being a tall person may include perfectly fitting knee-high boots or making sure your bed is long enough. But there’s more to consider for an aspiring Victoria’s Secret model than being above 5 foot 8 inches.
So what criteria do these fashion show models need to meet?
Body Shape
Victoria’s Secret is a lingerie brand, meaning their bodies are important, as they will be on show. A slim hourglass figure is the norm for these models.
It’s said that Victoria’s Secret goes by the guidelines of a 34-inch bust, a 24-inch waist, and 34-inch hips. For many women, this is a hard guideline to achieve, making the pool of eligible “angels” even smaller.
Age Range
Those who cast the models also look for those within a certain age bracket.
Victoria’s Secret looks for the youngest models possible — the younger the model, the longer they can work for the brand. For this reason, the casting directors at Victoria’s Secret focus on young women, taking on new models from the ages of 18 but no older than 22.
The only time an older model will be considered is if she already has an established start in her modeling career.
Overall Appearance
It’s a known fact that models are airbrushed in magazines and photoshoots, and Victoria’s Secret models are no exception. However, because these models attend so many large live events, they do not have that advantage.
This means that another requirement for aspiring models is to have natural beauty. Along with their toned physique, Victoria’s Secret models can usually be spotted by their full lips, small nose, and high cheekbones.
Personality
Lastly, since Victoria’s Secret models are exposed to so much attention, this is quickly followed by fame, and the “angels” themselves become celebrities. To be loved by the public, possessing looks of ideal beauty will get you far, but having a glowing personality will get you further.
Not only is this important for the brand, but aspiring models must remember that to be part of Victoria’s Secret, you will be part of a team of models. Having good qualities such as kindness and intelligence will serve you well in the industry.
Conclusion
Victoria’s Secret is an internationally known brand, and the models tend to become just as famous. It’s no surprise that we find ourselves wondering, “how tall are Victoria’s Secret models?”
The requirements to be an “angel” come from the wider modeling industry, such as the ideal height of 5 foot 8 inches and over. But, as the company evolved and the Victoria’s Secret fashion show grew, models needed to be more than just tall.
If we look at examples of the models (or “angels”) such as Gigi Hadid, Tyra Banks, and Candice Swanepoel, the requirements become clear: slim hourglass figure, full lips, small nose, and a likable personality.
Not only do you now know how tall the average Victoria’s Secret model is (5 foot 10 inches on average), but you also know the story of the brand, how the models became so important and what it takes to become one.