We were Victoria’s Secret models & the show is ‘not real’ – we spent hours in make-up, our mothers didn’t recognise us

LAST night, some of the most famous models walked up and down the catwalk for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show following a six-year hiatus.

Gigi Hadid, Kate Moss, Adriana Lima and curvy brunette Ashley Graham all took to the iconic runway as they showcased some of the latest garments from the lingerie brand.

GettyGigi Hadid walked the runway for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024[/caption]

GettyAshley Graham put on a curvy display as she stormed the catwalk last night[/caption]

Dane beauty Josephine Skriver spilled the beans on what really goes on behind the scenesGetty Images – Getty

One of them admitted that even her own mother struggled to recognise her with the piles of make-up and Photoshop editsGetty Images – Getty

Even the presenter of America’s Next Top Model, Tyra Banks, 50, made an epic comeback, returning to the VS runway for the first time in almost two decades.

Some sashaying up and down the catwalk in sexy black lace numbers, others with the signature VS Angels wings, the models all looked incredible, wowing fans across the world.

But have you ever wondered what it’s really like being a model for the well-known fashion brand? And what goes on behind the scenes?

Well, two former models, Jasmine Tookes and Josephine Skriver, have spilled the beans on their time with Victoria’s Secret – and according to them, none of what we see on the catwalk is actually real.

Jasmine, 33, and Josephine, 31, opened up about the hours of intense work that went into creating the glam catwalk image – with one admitting that her own mum couldn’t even recognise her.

The ex-models, from California and Denmark respectively, spoke candidly about their experiences when they were interviewed on the Real Pod podcast with host Victoria Garrick.

Josephine, who first was a VS Angel in 2016, said: ”It was a weird time because you realise you were getting a massive amount of eyes looking at you.

”We got signed right when social media exploded too so it was this combination of everyone’s gonna know you for this glamourous side, takes two and a hour hours in hair and makeup, personal trainers, this whole situation.

”Yet you now have the ability of taking them behind the scenes and showing them the more real you.

”I felt like it was overnight you just let people in and I don’t think I understood, especially in the beginning, how obsessed people could be by the little details. 

”Like they wanted to know what kind of toothpaste I used and I was like, “Really? That just seems boring.”

The Dane beauty added that it was in that moment they pair realised just how much responsibility they had on their hands. 

Jasmine, who’s been a VS Angel since 2015, revealed that she sees comments ”every day” on her Instagram page which say, ”you’re always so put together,” and ”you’re always so perfect”.

The stunner said: ”I’m like, no I’m not! Not even the slightest bit.

”If you saw me waking up in the morning in my house, the middle of the day, walking around with spit up all over me from the baby, no makeup on, that’s my real life.”

Josephine chimed in: ”Nobody wants to be in their work suit twenty-four seven, none of us want to be glammed up twenty-four seven.”

Host Victoria said that for those who’d tune in to watch the shows or look at glam images of the Angels, it may not be immediately obvious that they had been edited with Photoshop. 

She explained that because back in the day there weren’t as many filters and apps to alter snaps, people were unaware.

The host said: ”I think for us it was given as this effortless thing and then I put on my bathing suit to go to the pool with my friends and the standard is to look the way the magazine photo looks.”

Jasmine then said: ”It’s just so crazy because I think to me it’s like so obvious, when you look back at our old VS campaigns.”

Josephine chimed in: ”I would stand next to the big billboards on the street and I could stand there for 30 minutes and not a single person could put the two people together.

”I’m like I don’t even look like my pictures. Sometimes my mum would be like, “Is that you? I didn’t even know you could look like this’.

”Even though you were shooting underwear constantly, I never really felt naked because we had two layers of body makeup and sparkle and glitter and oil.”