Angel Reese is set to make history on October 15 as the first professional athlete to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Reese attended last year’s event and will now debut as a Victoria’s Secret Angel, beginning her global partnership with the brand.
“I literally could not stop smiling!” Reese told PEOPLE. “It’s such a surreal and full-circle moment — just last year I was in the audience manifesting being on that runway, completely inspired and in awe of all the powerful women walking down the runway, and now I get to return as an Angel. This will be an unforgettable night that I’ll forever be grateful for.”
The WNBA star says she is proud to set this milestone and hopes to inspire others.
“I hope I can inspire women and girls everywhere and remind them that we can dominate in our field but also chase our goals outside of it — and for me, that’s getting to walk down fashion and entertainment’s most iconic runway,” she said.
Reese says preparing for the runway has been similar to training for basketball. “It’s all about confidence!” she explained. “I’ve been training for both basketball and the fashion show these last couple of weeks, and I’m ready to swap my Angel Reese 1s for heels on Wednesday night!” She also plans to bring her “signature tunnel walk” to the runway. “My walk will be confident, but inside I know I’ll definitely be freaking out with excitement!”
Sharing the stage with legends like Missy Elliott, one of the show’s musical guests, will make Reese feel “more empowered.” The event will also feature top models such as Adriana Lima, Alex Consani, and Anok Yai.
“This will be an unforgettable night that I’ll forever be grateful for,” Reese said, emphasizing how meaningful it is to combine her success in professional sports with fashion.
Her runway debut represents a historic crossover and highlights her versatility as both an athlete and a model.
