Victoria's Secret lingerie show hits 20-year mark

SOME LIT UP, others were pretty - and patriotic - in pink and still more burst forth like fireworks.
Yes, Tuesday was Victoria's Secret sexpot angel time, though the masses will have to wait until 10pm EST on December 8 to watch the 20th annual lingerie extravaganza on CBS. This was just the taping, including musical performances by The Weeknd, Ellie Goulding and Selena Gomez, after Rihanna abruptly canceled.
Veteran VS walkers like Lily Aldridge and Alessandra Ambrosio were joined by newbie angels, including Martha Hunt and Elsa Hosk. Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid were among the non-winged supermodels new to the glitzy show that generates weeks of advance buzz and will be seen in 192 countries by more than 500 million people, according to company officials.
In all, 47 models blew air kisses, flirted on stage with the camera and flipped their varied wings around as they strutted on the runway in 75 looks at a Manhattan armory.
Caitlyn Jenner was among those who attended the runway show to cheer on daughter Kendall.
Hadid said backstage that she has big respect for the veteran angels and hopes to earn her own wings one day. So how were the nerves for the newcomers?
"Actually, surprisingly, not bad," Hadid said. "I was really nervous in rehearsal."
She shared the stage later with Gomez and Goulding.
"I love both of them," said Hadid, who fell to the floor and gasped in a video of her audition, when she was told she was picked.
As for her famous curves, she prepared with the help of boxing and ballet.
"A lot of sweating and then just focusing on smaller parts because when everything's in high-def you have to not forget about the little things," Hadid said. "I've watched the show my entire life and this has been such a dream."
Gomez, a buddy of previous Victoria's Secret show performers like Taylor Swift, along with some of the walkers, performed on the splashy stage with her dancers as models walked, as did The Weeknd and Goulding.
"I don't know if I could be an angel, I'm not gonna lie," Gomez joked. "I look at how hard they work. I like fried food too much. I don't know if I could give that up."
Lima, marking her 16th year as an angel, said her nerves leading up to each show never really go away.
"It's a little bit tough after so many years because the girls are so beautiful and I have to keep up with them," laughed the 34-year-old mother of two. "I work out as much as I can, and you know, I feel great ... I feel wonderful in my skin." AP

Ellie Goulding performed her hits as models took to the ramp