By Sonia Horon, US Assistant Showbiz Editor
Gisele Bündchen thrilled fans and fashion enthusiasts alike on Sunday evening with a surprise, high-profile cameo during the highly anticipated 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The legendary Brazilian supermodel, now 46 years old, made her triumphant return to the brand that helped cement her status as a global icon, kicking off the spectacle with a sizzling pre-taped segment that immediately captured the attention of viewers worldwide.
In the opening video package, Bündchen was seen lounging effortlessly on a plush sofa, clad in peach lace lingerie paired with the iconic brand’s signature pink-and-white striped silk robe. Radiating the effortless glamour that defined an era of runway modeling, she looked directly into the camera and addressed the audience with a teasing inquiry. "Are you ready for the show?" she asked in the clip. Her appearance served as the immediate prelude to the star-studded runway event, which was officially opened by fellow supermodel Bella Hadid. The evening’s lineup also featured a major milestone moment, with reality television star and beauty mogul Kylie Jenner making her official Victoria’s Secret debut while wearing a jaw-dropping, diamond-covered bra valued at an unprecedented $50 million.
While Bündchen’s presence in the opening segment set an elevated tone for the evening, she wasn’t finished captivating the audience. The legendary bombshell returned at the very end of the fashion show with a second pre-taped cameo, during which she dropped a major hint about a potential ongoing partnership with the lingerie giant. Flashing a knowing smile and a playful wink to the camera as the event concluded, she reflected on the night’s festivities and hinted at what is to come. "Wasn’t that amazing? You’re gonna be seeing more of me real soon," she said.
Despite her prominent role in the broadcast, Bündchen did not physically walk the runway during the live event. Days prior to the show, photographs obtained by Page Six showed the supermodel hobbling while wearing a black medical boot strapped around her right ankle, indicating she was dealing with a foot injury. The physical limitation explains her absence from the physical catwalk, though her creative involvement through the custom pre-taped segments ensured she remained a central figure of the evening.
Bündchen’s surprise return holds immense nostalgic value for fashion fans, coming exactly 20 years after her last physical runway appearance for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2006. Her history with the brand dates back decades, beginning when she made her Victoria’s Secret debut in 1999 at the young age of 19. Her undeniable impact on the runway quickly made her a favorite of both the brand’s executives and the public, leading to a milestone achievement just one year later. In 2000, at the height of the brand’s cultural dominance, Bündchen signed a record-setting $25 million contract with Victoria’s Secret, solidifying her status as a primary face of the company.
During her tenure, Bündchen remained a steadfast staple on the Victoria’s Secret catwalk for six consecutive years. Among her most iconic moments with the brand was wearing the legendary Red Hot Fantasy Bra in 2000. In the hyper-competitive and prestigious world of fashion, wearing a Fantasy Bra is widely considered one of the highest individual honors a supermodel can receive. Bündchen rocked the incredibly pricey piece of lingerie—which featured a staggering 1,300 diamonds and precious Thai rubies—for the brand’s holiday catalog rather than a live runway walk.
At the time of its debut, the Red Hot Fantasy Bra was valued at a massive $15 million, holding the crown for the most expensive Fantasy Bra ever created in the history of the brand. Furthermore, Bündchen’s legendary bra held the official Guinness World Record as the most expensive piece of lingerie ever created until 2006, when the record was eventually surpassed by subsequent designs. The illustrious Fantasy Bra tradition originally kicked off a decade prior in 1996, when German supermodel Claudia Schiffer debuted the first-ever iteration, which was valued at $1 million, as part of a high-profile Victoria’s Secret advertising campaign.
The record set by Bündchen’s 2000 masterpiece stood the test of time for decades, but it was decisively shattered during Sunday’s event by Kylie Jenner. Jenner stunned the fashion world and grabbed headlines across the globe by stepping onto the runway wearing a dazzling $50 million diamond-encrusted design, marking a historic monetary milestone for the brand’s signature high-value garments.
Although Bündchen stepped away from physical participation in the brand’s live runway shows two decades ago, she has maintained a selective relationship with Victoria’s Secret over the years. Notably, she appeared alongside fellow legendary supermodels Adriana Lima and Naomi Campbell in a major print and digital campaign for the brand in 2023, signaling a renewed cultural alignment with the company that launched her into global superstardom.
Bündchen officially announced her retirement from walking in traditional fashion shows and completed her final runway walk back in 2015, transitioning into a different phase of her storied career and personal life. Her carefully curated cameos at the 2026 fashion show bridge the gap between the brand’s golden era and its modern revival, delighting long-time fans who remember her iconic strides down the runway while leaving the door wide open for whatever new projects she hinted at for the future.
