Thursday, December 4, 2008
Victoria's Secret Runway Show
The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
Let's take a moment to savor this little tidbit: Even Victoria's Secret's handpicked "angels" ramp up the cardio and cut out the carbs before they parade around in their underwear for a nationally televised broadcast.
Marisa Miller, Doutzen Kroes and Miranda Kerr are the newest models to be given their wings by the lingerie giant, joining Heidi Klum, Karolina Kurkova, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio and Selita Ebanks as the brand's top models. All three of the newbies had graced the Victoria's Secret catwalk before but they weren't fully part of the family until they went to Miami last month for the new runway show spectacle that will be seen on CBS Wednesday night.
There were plenty of jitters as they slipped into their lacy looks.
"I love feeling so sexy and I love to be on this runway, but you're nervous because it's lingerie and it's on TV," says Kroes, whose outfits include a frothy pink ballerina ensemble and a Greek goddess get-up. "There are so many people seeing you live, it's not like a picture when there is Photoshop after."
To prepare, Dutch 23-year-old beauty Kroes, who says she normally eats what she wants because she exercises often, goes on a strict sugar- and carb-free meal plan and spends many extra minutes a day jumping rope. "For other fashion shows you can be skinny, but for Victoria's Secret, you need definition," says Kroes, 23.
Her belly wasn't empty, though. "I get butterflies in my stomach, for sure."
Miller, a relaxed surfer type true to her Califonia roots, says she also has to psych herself up.
"I'm a little shy and unassuming, which might be hard to believe with my job, so I don't have to quite become another person out there but I have to think about letting it all go. My last outfit was a black velvet one-piece with pink feathers on the back. I had to show the camera my tailfeathers so I did give a little spin," she says.
Miller, 30, calls this gig the biggest thing in her career and it's worth all the work -- and the workouts. "When you're on the runway, you're moving so it's all about toning up," she says.
With extensive fittings and rehearsals, as well as the elaborate set-up (which coincided with $1 billion in renovations to the host site Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel), Miller says part of her couldn't wait to take the first step out and enjoy her "moment." Yet, she was also staring at the reality of a huge audience.
"That's when you hope you can make it to the end of the runway in one piece. Some outfits are complicated, and you have to be aware of how they shift or if they are restricting. When you're in your underwear, a lot can happen," she says.
Kerr, who flutters down the runway in a cool-shade blue lace low-cut bra and high-cut brief, sexy sandals with thigh-high ribbons and the coveted wings, took comfort in knowing her family was in the crowd, and winked at her mom and dad.
"My mom didn't mind seeing me up there in my underwear ," Kerr says. "I am 25 and it's all very lovely and like a costume. It's beautiful and romantic ... it's not like standing up there in my everyday underwear. It's a theatrical show and everyone is there to have a good time."