As the fashion world buzzes with excitement over the recent Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Gigi Hadid has stepped in to defend fellow model Elsa Hosk against criticism regarding her runway performance. Hosk, a seasoned veteran who has graced the Victoria’s Secret runway from 2011 to 2018, faced backlash for her walk during the much-anticipated Oct. 18 event.
Gigi Hadid Stands By Hosk
In response to the critiques, Hadid took to Threads on Oct. 21, expressing her support for Hosk. “This really PMO,” she remarked, addressing a since-deleted post that had sparked the conversation. Her admiration for the iconic Victoria’s Secret Angels was clearly evident, as she stated, “Elsa slayed this. I’m the biggest fan of the OG Angels; but even the scale & size of this runway is not comparable to the OG shows.”
The Challenges of Today’s Runway
The scrutiny of Hosk’s performance also brought forward comparisons to legendary model Gisele Bündchen, who has not walked in a Victoria’s Secret show since 2006. Hadid emphasized the intense pressures and challenges models face in the current fashion landscape. “It’s a looong walk in the wings these days ++ they can be 75+lbs, 10+ ft tall, sometimes animatronic, etc,” she clarified. These alterations to the showcases make it much more difficult to perform, contributing to the complexity of the modern runway experience.
Hadid concluded her insights by highlighting the immense effort involved in managing the elaborate props that have become a staple of these shows. “The wings are getting bigger bc the viewers love it & they’re MAJOR but NOT aerodynamic, then add the gust of runway fans!! It takes 3 men to take these wings off of us,” she noted.
With Hadid’s support for Hosk, it’s clear that even in the face of scrutiny, the bond among models and the challenges of their craft remain strong.
