Victoria's Secret without... STARS

Tyra looking gorgeous opening the Last Show of her career.

The world-famous lingerie brand earns a whopping US$1 Billion annually in revenue . Period.

Hires 26 supermodels year after year for its famous-as-hell fashion show... Naomi, Karolina, Adriana, Alexandria, Oluchi, Fernanda, Isabelli, Anna-Beatrice, Heidi.... you name it...

In Nov 2005, the brand lost its legend of all legends.. Supermodel Tyra Banks.. marking the end of an 11-yr multi million dollar collaboration and contract ; she who is the first ever cover model on the now- world famous magazine the 'Victoria's Secret Catelog' (why famous? Try getting any magazine with a bus load of supermodels posing in next to nothing on every of its pages) , she who is The first and remains the only black model to be an Angel (contracted Victoria's Secret model; sans 4-5 other Angels, every other supermodel on the run way show is to fill the spaces so-to-speak... very expensive and sought-after spaces of course.) And there's no need to elaborate on her being the first black model on the cover of famed Sports Illustrated... on consecutive issues no less(the only model in the history of the magazine to do so) ... first and only colored Cover girl.. first girl on the GQ magazine covers....blah blah . Woo.

Well, other fans will probably say Tyra left because she wanted to concentrate more on establishing her self as a media celebrity (and darling) and not just remain as a high profile international model that she already is. Well, not far from the truth. But consider this scenario:

If the brand were to go " Tyra, we really want you to stay (which they had openly admitted that they do), we'll pay your another US$5million dollar contract to stay on. "

OK, granted, Miss Bankable probably earns A LOT more now being the producer and host to ANTM and The Tyra Banks Show.
(she's now only the 4th woman in history to be on Times 100 Most Influential People ,twice. She is now virtually room mates with Hilary Clinton, Condoleeeza Rice and Oprah)
She earned over US$30-million in 2006, alone.


Tyra saying good bye to the Wings that made her famous.

But hey, an additional five mil just to be strutting down the runway and doing photoshoots a couple of times (Damn! She wore an US$11 million Fantasy Angel diamond-studded bra; the most expensive couture outfit in fashion history, back in 2004!...) ...is good pocket money to pay the rent, you know ;op


Then this month, the brand lost yet another Icon in its ranks, Supermodel Gisele Bundchen. She who opens every show for Victoria's Secrets. She who has arguably the most perfect body in the fashion world. She who holds the record for being the highest paid model in fashion history... n that brings me to my point.... all she asked... was a 'puny' S$5mil more..... and the brand won't budge.
I mean, hellooooooo.... do they think Gisele will work for Peanuts? They probably need her more than she needs them.

Losing 2 of the biggest stars in the business .. 2 of the most famous bodies in fashion history (Naomi, Kate and Elle pls seat down).... in the matter of 2 years..bad business sense for Victoria'Secrets.

Alright, granted, these two models are very expensive commodities and the money they make can feed entire third world nations for months . And its hardly 'justifiable' to ask for more... (after all Greed is one of the Sins , right?) .

But we, normal folks, who just want pure entertainment.... can't possibly see Karolina Kurkova or Adriana Lima open every show... Alexandra Ambriosio looking all sweet and pretty all the time ..... and then there's Selita Ebanks and Isabel Goulart (god knows why and how these two even became the latest Angels! Where is Ana-Beatrice and Oluchi when you need them?! ).. erm... never mind.

Heidi Klum? If only , that is ... IF only, she ever gets out of maternity leave ... and stops getting preggy year after year....

Still, Tyra , then now Gisele .... are gone.

Last year's 'SEXY ' (Whatever) 'Justin Timberlake' showcase ... was already a little hodge podgey..
This coming 2007 Victoria's Secret fashion show....will be interesting.

Stay tuned..... and sigh your hearts out.


Tyra closing the VS show. For the very last time.