10 Oldest Victoria’s Secret Models (Updated 2024)

According to BuzzFeed News, the average age of retirement for a Victoria’s Secret model is about 28 years old. Most models start their careers when they’re still teenagers and often leave the industry in the mid to late 20s –  Victoria’s Secret models overall, tend to be older than average. All of the models on this list stayed with Victoria’s Secret well past their “prime” and many have since become household names. Their longevity as Victoria’s Secret models seems to have been a plus for most of these models as they have had major success outside of the modeling industry. These Victoria’s Secret models prove that you can be attractive at any age.

As of July 2023, the information on this list is as accurate as possible and will be updated as needed.

10. Behati Prinsloo (May 16, 1988 – Present)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Before retiring in 2019, Behati Prinsloo was one of the oldest and longest-running Victoria’s Secret models. Prinsloo joined Victoria’s Secret in 2007 when she walked in her first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The following year, Prinsloo became a contract model for Victoria’s Secret PINK line and even designed a capsule collection called “Behati Loves PINK” in 2010.

Prinsloo made her modeling debut in the 2006 the exclusive Prada/Miu Miu fashion show and her first ad campaign was for Marc by Marc Jacobs. Outside of her modeling, Prinsloo famously married Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine in 2014. Prinsloo has appeared in several Maroon 5 music videos, such as “Animals”, “Cold”, “Wait”, and “Girls Like You.” Levine and Prinsloo now have two daughters.

Did You Know?

Behati Prinsloo actively supports organizations trying to protect the black rhinoceros, a critically endangered species native to Namibia and other countries in Southern Africa.

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9. Marisa Miller (August 6, 1978 – Present)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Although Marisa Miller worked with Victoria’s Secret for nearly a decade, she spent most of that time as a catalog model and did not become a Victoria’s Secret Angel until 2007. Miller appeared in her first Victoria’s Secret commercial alongside Heidi Klum and also walked in her first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show later that year. Miller also appeared in every Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue between 2002 – 2008.

Miller began her modeling career after she was discovered by two Italian modeling agents while walking around in San Francisco one day. In 2010, Miller left Victoria’s Secret as well as the modeling industry to work on her personal brand. Miller went on to launch a shoe line with Vans and became the first spokesperson ever for Harley-Davidson in 2008.

Did You Know?

Marisa Miller is an ambassador for the USO and visits American military bases worldwide and receives frequent fan mail from American troops.

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8. Elsa Hosk (November 7, 1988 – Present)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Elsa Hosk is currently one of the oldest active Victoria’s Secret models at the age of 31 and will actually be turning 32 later in 2020. Although Hosk didn’t become an official Victoria’s Secret Angel until 2015, she has been walking in the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show since 2011.

Hosk, who hails from Sweden, began her modeling career when she was 14 years old, but did not pursue the career seriously until she was older. Over the years, Hosk  has worked for brands including Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Free People, Ungaro, H&M, Anna Sui, Lily Pulitzer, and Guess.

Did You Know?

After graduating from high school (and before pursuing modeling full time), Elsa Hosk had a career as a professional basketball player with the Swedish women’s basketball league.

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7. Candice Swanepoel (October 20, 1988 – Present)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Although she did not become an official Victoria’s Secret Angel until 2010, Candice Swanepoel has been working with Victoria’s Secret since 2007, making her one of the longest working Victoria’s Secret model. Swanepoel was scouted at a flea market in her home country of South Africa when she was 15 years old. By the following year, Swanepoel was booking modeling jobs across Europe and she moved to New York to pursue modeling full-time when she turned 18.

After becoming a full-time model Swanepoel appeared in ad campaigns for Tom Ford, Oscar De La Renta, Givenchy, Miu Miu, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, and Victoria’s Secret.

Did You Know?

Candice Swanepoel is actively involved in mothers2mothers, a charity devoted to achieving an “HIV-free generation” of children and mothers in Africa

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6. Tyra Banks (December 4, 1973 – Present)

photo source:  Flickr via Digitas Photos

Besides Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks is one of the most famous Victoria’s Secret models ever. Like Klum, Banks turned her modeling career into something much larger. After leaving Victoria’s Secret and the modeling industry, Banks launched her own reality TV show, America’s Next Top Model. Following the success of America’s Next Top Model, Banks was given her own talk show, The Tyra Show, which ran from 2005 – 2010. Most recently, Banks became the host of America’s Got Talent.

During her modeling career, Banks achieved many firsts in the industry. Banks was the first African American on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, the first African American woman on the cover of GQ, and the first African American to appear on the cover of a Victoria’s Secret catalog. Beyond her modeling and TV career, Banks also has her own makeup line.

Did You Know?

In 2019, Tyra Banks came out of retirement to once again model. Banks appeared on one of the three 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers (for the third time and 22 years after her first Swimsuit Issue cover) and now goes by the modeling name BanX.

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5. Stephanie Seymour (July 23, 1968 – Present)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

While she might not be as well-known outside of the modeling industry as some of the other models on this list, Stephanie Seymour is one of the original Victoria’s Secret Angels and has had a career lasting over three decades. Seymour caught her big break at age 16 when she was finalist at the first ever Elite Model Management Look of the Year modeling contest in 1983. Following her appearance in the contest, Seymour moved to New York to pursue her modeling career.

Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Seymour appeared on numerous magazine covers, including Vogue, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Elle, Cosmopolitan, and many more. Seymour has also been featured in campaigns for luxury brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Versace. Seymour joined Victoria’s Secret in 1995, when the brand was just starting to get famous. She also walked in the very first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show later that year.

Did You Know?

Stephanie Seymour famously served as Azzedine Alaïa’s muse when she was younger.

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4. Lily Aldridge (November 15, 1985 – Present)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Lily Aldridge was another long-standing Victoria’s Secret Model, who retired from the brand in September 2018. Aldridge comes from a family that is heavily involved with the fashion industry, her father Alan Aldridge is an artist and her mother is former Playboy Playmate Laura Lyons. Her siblings, Saffron and Ruby are also models, while her brother Miles is a fashion photographer.

Aldridge landed her first modeling gig at age 16 when she appeared in advertisements for Abercrombie & Fitch. In 2009 Aldridge appeared in her first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and became a Victoria’s Secret Angel the following year. Aldrdige is also known for appearing on the 50^th anniversary cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Issue with Chrissy Teigen and Nina Adgal.

Did You Know?

Lily Aldridge has been the face of the fashion brand Velvet Tees since 2004 and in 2013 she released her own clothing line with the brand called Lily Aldridge by Velvet.

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3. Alessandra Ambrosio (April 11, 1981 – Present)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Before walking in her last Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Alessandra Ambrosio was one of the brand’s oldest and longest-working model. Starting in 2000, Ambrosio appeared in 17 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runways and became one of the brand’s most famous models. When Victoria’s Secret launched their “PINK” line, which was aimed at a younger, college-aged demographic, Ambrosio was picked to become the first PINK spokesmodel.

Ambrosio enrolled in modeling classes when she was just 12 years old and she signed with her first agency a few years later. One of Ambrosio’s first major jobs was landing on the cover of the Brazillian Elle magazine. Since leaving Victoria’s Secret, Ambrosio has continued her modeling career and even launched her own clothing line called Ále by Alessandra in 2014.

Did You Know?

Besides modeling, Alesandra Ambrosio has several acting credits and has appeared on Entourage, New Girl, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.

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2. Heidi Klum (June 1, 1973 – Present)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

While several Victoria’s Secret models have had strong careers outside of the modeling world, none of them have had more success than Heidi Klum, who is known for so much more than just being a Victoria’s Secret Angel. Klum managed to turn her modeling career into an empire that includes her own lingerie line, acting credits in movies such as Ella Enchanted, and hosting the hit reality TV show Project Runway, which earned Klum an Emmy. Project Runway premiered in 2004 with Klum as host but she announced in 2018 that she would be leaving the show after a 16 season run.

Klum initially wanted to go to fashion design school but became a model instead after she won the Model 92 contest in her native Germany. Soon after, Klum moved to the U.S. and began booking modeling jobs, including the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 1997. The following year, Klum was the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue cover model, which helped her gain more recognition. Victoria’s Secret made her an official Angel in 1999 and Klum stayed with the brand for 13 years before leaving to pursue other interests.

Did You Know?

In addition to all of her work in entertainment, Heidi Klum is also an artist and several of her paintings have appeared in art magazines.

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1. Adriana Lima (June 12, 1981 – Present)

photo source:  Wikimedia Commons via Georges Biard

Adriana Lima retired in the Fall of 2018 at the age of 37, making her the oldest oldest Victoria’s Secret model ever. In addition to being the oldest Victoria’s Secret model, Lima still holds the record as the brand’s longest-running model – Lima became a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2000 and had walked in her first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 1999.

As a child, Lima competed in beauty pageants but did not think of becoming a model until she entered Ford’s “Supermodel of Brazil” modeling contest after a friend who didn’t want to go alone asked Lima to come with her. Lima ended up winning the contest and the following year (1996), she placed second in Ford’s “Supermodel of the World” contest. Three years later, at age 18, Lima moved to New York and signed with Elite Model Management. Lima has been modeling ever since and shows no signs of slowing down.

Did You Know?

Over her long career with Victoria’s Secret, Adriana Lima appeared in a total of 20 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show catwalks.