Supermodel Adriana Lima Hangs Up Victoria's Secret Angel Wings After 2018 VS Fashion Show

Adriana Lima announced her retirement from Victoria’s Secret after walking her 18th and last fashion show at Manhattan’s Pier 94. Her Instagram post was a sweet goodbye.

Victoria’s Secret Angel, Brazilian beauty Adriana Lima is hanging up her wings after two decades and 18 fashion shows with the brand. Lima shared the news on her Instagram following Thursday night’s taping of the annual show.

The name Adriana Lima is almost synonymous with the Victoria’s Secret brand, and Lima is so devoted to its success that she famously walked the runway in 2012, just five weeks after giving birth.

"Dear Victoria, Thank you for showing me the world, sharing your secrets, and most importantly not just giving me wings but teaching me to fly. And all the ❤️ to the best fans in the 🌎! Love, Adriana 💖"

Victoria’s Secret sent Adriana out with a bang, devoting a whole segment of her final VS runway walk to her. Making a solo walk down the runway against the backdrop of a video montage of her spectacular VS career, tears broke when Victoria’s Secret gave her a sign to carry that read, "Thank you to the best Angel of all time." 

Victoria’s Secret Angel Adriana Lima says goodbye. via Vogue.com

Lima’s departure comes a year after the retirement of fellow Brazilian sister Alessandra Ambrosio, who retired her wings after 17 years after the 2017 fashion show. With multiple challenges for the brand dominating its current status, the departure of Adriana Lima is one more data dot in projecting the Victoria’s Secret future.

The early read on VS execs Ed Razek and Monica Mitro’s online Vogue interview “We’re Nobody’s Third Love, We’re Their First Love”—The Architects of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Are Still Banking on Bombshells is not great. The Cut wrote: This Interview With the Minds Behind Victoria’s Secret Is . . . Really Something.

I know both Ed and Monica and have articulated my own thoughts on Victoria’s Secret many times. It’s a moment for reflection before saying anything else right now about Victoria’s Secret. Meanwhile, we share a look back at Adriana Lima’s career to date. There’s no doubt that she has an exciting future ahead of her.