Victoria’s Secret has finally responded after facing backlash over former Angel Romee Strijd not being selected for its 2026 Fashion Show. The iconic lingerie brand stated that it values and respects all its talent partners, past, present, and future.
Romee Strijd criticized the casting process after missing out on the 2026 fashion show
Strijd shared a video on October 12, ahead of the October 18 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, where Kylie Jenner made a surprise runway debut in a $50 million Fantasy Bra. The 31-year-old model revealed that she attended casting calls in New York City in September. She had trained extensively throughout the summer, hoping to return to the Victoria’s Secret runway.
The Dutch model wanted to make a comeback after becoming a mother of two. However, she waited weeks without receiving a clear response. Neither casting director Piergiorgio Del Moro nor her team at IMG Models gave her a definite answer.
She said, “The show is on Sunday, and they haven’t cancelled, they haven’t confirmed, and I think it’s gonna be a no. But I also keep training and continue training cause you never know; like in fashion and in modelling, it’s all very last minute. I would love to; I’ve done everything I could. I went to the casting, I trained, and now it’s out of my hands.”
In a second video posted hours later, Strijd revealed that her modeling agency had confirmed she would not be cast. She said she wanted an explanation for why she was not cast. Strijd said the situation did not add up, making her feel even worse than not getting the show. She explained that she did not feel supported by her agency. She also felt that she had not received the full story. The model said she wanted everyone to be honest with her and explain the decision.
Now, a Victoria’s Secret spokesperson provided a statement to Vanity Fair via email. The statement read, “We can confirm that Victoria’s Secret and [casting director] Piergiorgio Del Moro communicated directly to her representation and formally released her from the casting process on September 6. While we cannot speak to the communications between talent and representation, Victoria’s Secret values and respects all talent partners—past, present, and future.”
