It’s no secret that Sarah Grossi needs wings.
The Huge Apple transplant, a 22-year-old native of Massachusetts, flew the coop from New England to New York with a singular purpose — to slay amongst the Angels within the Victoria’s Secret Style Present.
“It’s certainly one of my greatest goals,” Grossi, a 2026 NYU grad, completely instructed The Publish. “As a graduating senior in highschool, my yearbook quote was, ‘I wish to stroll within the Victoria’s Secret Present.’ My NYU software essay centered round my purpose to stroll within the Victoria’s Secret Present.”
“Considered one of my ultimate school essays, which was like 12 pages, was concerning the sociology of the Victoria’s Secret Present as a cultural phenomenon and the way it’s formed my life.”
Now, she may get the once-in-a-lifetime privilege of becoming a member of the ranks of Shanina Shaik, Naomi Campbell, Jasmine Tookes, Candace Swanepoel, Heidi Klum, Bella and Gigi Hadid and Tyra Banks — to call just a few.
Grossi is certainly one of a flock of NYC sirens vying for the solo spot as a rookie recruit within the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Style Present this fall, after the brand opened up purposes to most of the people.
The appliance doesn’t explicitly exclude of us of particular heights or weights. However is simply open to ages 18 to twenty-eight.
Together with the possibility to strike a pose on the heralded Victoria’s Secret platform, the fortunate looker chosen to star within the present may even ink an unique contract with IMG Fashions.
The annual spectacle, buxom with bosomy bombshells boasting ginormous feathered wings whereas modeling bras and bikinis, made a controversial comeback in 2024 and 2025 after being canceled in late 2019.
The six-year hiatus got here amid a flurry of scandals, together with ex-Victoria’s Secret chief advertising and marketing officer, Ed Razek, saying its predominant stage had no room for plus-size fashions, and stunning revelations that Leslie Wexner, the CEO of its former mother or father firm, L Manufacturers, enjoyed a close friendship with convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The various pool of girls who’ve answered the corporate’s new casting name, nonetheless, are endeavoring to alter the damaging narrative as soon as and for all.
From curvy contenders like Grace, who unabashedly bragged about being invited to Victoria’s Secret’s second spherical of casting this week, to Stella Kae, a paralyzed 5-foot-10 pinup who put a bid in for the coveted gig from her wheelchair, nationwide knockouts of every kind are eagerly getting into the operating.
And Gotham’s most angelic are going full steam forward.
Meet 5 of NYC’s steamiest, dreamiest Victoria’s Secret Style Present candidates.
The bookworm-turned-bombshell
Kailyn Shepherd grew up because the woman who all the time obtained the grade. A scholar finest identified for scoring — and standing — head and shoulders above her friends, the 5-foot-9 New Jersey native excelled in lecture rooms at boarding faculty and Amherst School, however secretly longed for all times within the limelight as a mannequin.
It was an unstated want Shepherd suppressed for years till 2023, when she launched her innate modeling abilities on-line, proving to the world {that a} woman can succeed with each magnificence and brains.
“I used to be bored with being put right into a field by society,” Shepherd, 25, primarily based within the East Village, instructed The Publish. “I’ve all the time wished to mannequin, however so many individuals look down on it as a trivial occupation. However I knew I had a present, so I began posting my stroll on social media.”
Footage of her saucy swagger caught the attention of stylish trend homes, touchdown Shepherd spots on New York- and London Style Week walkways.
“However as soon as I turned a mannequin, that’s all folks noticed — a reasonably face,” she groaned. “My schooling, my opinions didn’t matter.“
Shepherd hopes to show the tide by scoring the Victoria’s Secret put up.
“Being the subsequent Angel would hopefully give me the possibility to indicate younger ladies, particularly younger black ladies, that you just don’t have to decide on between being sensible and being horny, you may be each,” she gushed.
“You may be all of the issues — female, fierce and clever on the runway.”
The match centerfold
Sarah Grossi doesn’t fold underneath strain. She thrives underneath it.
“Bodily and psychological well being are actually vital to me,” mentioned the aspiring teen therapist. “I actually admired Victoria’s Secret’s ‘Practice Like an Angel’ marketing campaign, displaying how dedicated their fashions are to really being athletes and understanding in, like, such wholesome methods.”
“So I’ve began difficult myself with some actually massive health objectives.”
The 5-foot-10 stunner — who’s filmed her submission video in Victoria’s Secret’s flagship retailer on Fifth Avenue — just lately took up operating. She’s accomplished six half-marathons prior to now yr and was a shoo-in for the second part of the casting
“I’m doing this massive problem as, like, a solo feminine hiker quickly. I additionally like snowboard, ski and surf,” mentioned Grossi. “I wish to encourage younger women to maneuver their our bodies in wholesome methods, to decide to athletics and setting objectives that enhance their shallowness.”
“As a tall woman at school, I didn’t get quite a lot of consideration from guys,” she added. “However my health and Victoria’s Secret journeys have helped me discover interior confidence.”
The versatile vixen
Adapting comes as second nature to Devyn Corridor.
The 23-year-old Los Angeles transplant, who identifies as combined race, has needed to regulate to unfamiliar environment and unwelcoming folks her whole life. However the adversities she confronted as a product of a “damaged dwelling” gave the belle the gusto to go after her goals — even within the face of no settlement.
“I picked up and moved to New York Metropolis in 2022 with no household or pals right here,” mentioned Corridor, standing at a petite 5-foot-6. “I enrolled in NYU’s Communicative Sciences and Problems program to check pediatric speech remedy, however modeling was all the time a want on the again burner of my coronary heart.”
Now completed with faculty and a bit extra aware of the Huge Apple, the go-getter is able to give the Victoria’s Secret Style Present a go.
“I’m hungry for this chance,” admitted Corridor. “I’m at an acceptable stage in life the place I lastly know who I’m and what I’ve to supply to the world.”
“My path has hardly ever been linear or good,” she conceded. “However I’ve discovered tips on how to be authentically me, and that’s what I’d wish to present everybody as the subsequent Victoria’s Secret Angel.”
The worldwide goddess
As a businesswoman with a hankering for modeling, there’s no place on the planet Martina Zavalla would relatively be than NYC, taking the large Victoria’s Secret swing.
“I’ve all the time been instructed that I ought to pursue modeling, however I by no means thought of doing it full-time, only for enjoyable,” Zavalla, 24, instructed The Publish.
After relocating from Argentina to the US at age 17, the sweetness “restarted my life at zero,” pressured to embrace a brand new language, tradition and way of life as an account supervisor for her mother and father’ home equipment firm.
However, at just below 5-foot-5, Zavalla hopes her Victoria’s Secret submission springboards her profession into the highlight that she — and tens of millions of little women with related backgrounds — has all the time secretly craved.
“I’d like to develop into the subsequent Angel for the entire children and ladies in Costa Rica and Argentina which may not have the alternatives that we’ve in the USA,” mentioned Zavalla. “The casting wasn’t accessible to folks outdoors of the nation.”
“I’d characterize them as a Victoria’s Secret angel, displaying them that something is feasible.”
The healthcare hottie
Working as an working room nurse at certainly one of Manhattan’s most prestigious medical services isn’t any cakewalk, says Tria Simmons.
The 27-year-old, nonetheless, tells The Publish that her runway stroll simply could be her ticket out of the OR and into mainstream modeling as Victoria’s Secret’s latest Angel.
“I’ve all of the measurements of Naomi Campbell, so why not shoot my shot?” Simmons, a local of Arizona, now dwelling in Chelsea, chuckled, referencing her try at runway greatness. “I simply go wherever life takes me. Nothing is holding me again.”
However her work as an Angel — ought to she be supplied the prized place — wouldn’t completely eclipse her function in healthcare.
“I’d wish to pursue modeling and nursing on the identical time,” mentioned Simmons. “I’m a agency believer in leaving this world higher than it was earlier than I obtained right here, so nursing will all the time be a precedence.”
And the 5-foot-10 head-turner says now’s the time to strive juggling each demanding designation.
“I don’t wish to be 50 wishing I’d have tried to develop into a mannequin in my 20s,” insisted Simmons.
“I’m simply going for it.”
