From Mooi River to LA: Mzansi’s angel returns to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show [video]

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is less than two weeks away.

And this year, Mzansi has a very good reason to set an alarm.

One of the most famous faces in the show’s history is heading back to the runway.

She grew up on a farm in a small KwaZulu-Natal Midlands town.

Now she’s about to make history come full circle.

The show takes place on Sunday, 18 October.

It streams live from Los Angeles at 16:30 Pacific time. For South Africans, that’s 01:30 on Monday, 19 October.

Fans can watch on Victoria’s Secret’s YouTube channel, Instagram and TikTok. It’s also a homecoming of sorts.

The show last took place in Los Angeles in 2007.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN ANGEL WHO KEEPS COMING BACK

Mooi River’s own Candice Swanepoel is confirmed for the 2026 cast, according to Marie Claire.

Here’s the full-circle moment. Candice made her debut as a newcomer at the 2007 show in Los Angeles.

She was just 15 when a scout spotted her at a Durban flea market.

She went on to hold Angel status from 2010 to 2021.

In 2013, she wore the Royal Fantasy Bra, valued at $10 million (R167 million).

Last year, she wore two looks. The first was a black lace set with a matching cape.

The second came with bronze wings. Fans flooded social media with praise.

Namibian model Behati Prinsloo also walked in 2025. She hasn’t been confirmed for this year’s show yet.

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WHO ELSE IS WALKING THE VICTORIA’S SECRET FASHION SHOW?

Ten models have been confirmed so far; Gigi Hadid, Adriana Lima and Ashley Graham lead the familiar names.

Paloma Elsesser, Alex Consani and Abby Champion are back too.

Anok Yai, Imaan Hammam and Devyn Garcia complete the list, alongside Candice.

The brand has been revealing new names every week.

Newcomers had a shot too.

Open casting calls ran in Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and Texas.

The brand also visited select Simon Malls across the US to choose semi-finalists. From April to June, thousands of models walked for judges.

They were hoping for a spot on the runway and a contract with IMG Models.

Their journey plays out in Angels Among Us, the brand’s docuseries on YouTube.

New episodes drop every Sunday and Thursday.

But here’s the twist. Viewers will only find out who wins, and who walks, on show night. That’s one more reason to stay up.

AN ALL-FEMALE LINE-UP ON STAGE

The music is just as big.

*Victoria’s Secret *confirmed that KATSEYE, Megan Thee Stallion, Tate McRae and Megan Moroney will all perform.

Last year’s stage featured Madison Beer, Missy Elliott, TWICE and Karol G. Victoria’s Secret chief creative officer Adam Selman told People he wanted this year to be “bigger and bolder than last year.”

The brand is also going bigger on screen.

For the first time, the show will screen live at 10 select AMC cinemas in the US.

Ticket holders get photo ops and merchandise.

Sadly for us, there’s no South African screening.

Mzansi will be watching from the couch, phone in hand.

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WHY THE VICTORIA’S SECRET FASHION SHOW STILL MATTERS

The show hasn’t always had an easy ride.

It disappeared after 2018.

The brand faced heavy criticism over a lack of diversity and inclusion.

Six years later, in 2024, the show returned.

This time, the brand used the comeback to showcase a more inclusive cast. 2026 marks its third outing since the return.

[internal link: The South African‘s 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show coverage]

I’ll admit I’ve got a soft spot for this one.

Candice has held her own on that runway for nearly two decades.

That’s no small thing in an industry that moves on quickly.

If you’re brave enough to set an alarm for 01:30, I think it’ll be worth it. Sharp sharp, Mzansi. Our angel is flying again.

WILL YOU BE STAYING UP TO WATCH CANDICE HIT THE RUNWAY?

Let us know in the comments below…