The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has come a long way from its humble beginning at the Plaza Hotel in 1995 to becoming one of the biggest extravaganzas of the year in the fashion calendar. The most-anticipated 20th anniversary show of the lingerie brand was filmed on Nov. 10, but it will air on Dec. 8.

Over the years, the VS show has come to be known for its models who have extreme body types. The VS models are thin, tall, light-coloured girls with long hair, washboard abs and huge thigh gaps, The Michigan Daily reports. The models are picked for the show not only for their physical beauty but for their personality and their ability to sell underwear and swimwear to women across the world.

Speaking to WWD back in 2003, Richard Habberley of DNA Model Management, which represents Alessandra Ambrosia said that the VS branding completely changes the girls’ careers. He added that the VS models are those who appeal to other women. They never appear in men’s magazines because when they start doing that they become a threat to potential female customers, Habberley added.

The veteran models earn to the tune of millions of dollars, but newer ones earn only a tenth of the amount. According to Stephanie Smith, Ambrosia’s contract was in millions, but now it’s only about $100,000, Business Insider reports.

The show this year returns to New York. “New York City was the site of the first ever Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 1995, and holds a special place in our history and our hearts,” said Sharen Jester Turney, chief executive officer of VS. The VS fashion show 2015 will witness Gigi Hadid and her best friend forever (BFF) Kendall Jenner walking the catwalk.

Also, in a major deviation from its models with long, straight and soft wavy hair, this year VS allowed Angolan model Maria Borges walk her third show with natural hair. Borges had told her agent to check if she could walk with her natural hair, Essence reports. The model said that she was nervous and did not expect a positive reply from VS, but when she got the reply, she was very happy.

​The musical extravaganza will witness Ellie Goulding, Selena Gomez and The Weeknd. Lily Aldridge will debut the $2 million Fireworks Fantasy Bra.

Let us have a look at the VS models over the last few years:

[Source: YouTube/Victoria’s Secret]

Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2015 airs Dec. 8 at 10 p.m. on CBS.

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