Following online criticism of her mirrored runway appearance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, model Elsa Hosk received public defense from fellow model Gigi Hadid, who detailed the extreme physical demands of wearing massive, seventy-plus-pound angel wings.
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles on Sunday, October 18, brought back several veteran models, including Swedish model Elsa Hosk, who returned to the runway just three months after welcoming her second daughter, Flora Blue, with her fiancé, Tom Daly, on July 22 according to Fashion Times UK. Hosk wore two distinct looks during the show, including a white lace corset paired with enormous rose-gold wings that weighed approximately 50 pounds, as reported by Hindustan Times. Her preparation for the demanding return involved working with celebrity fitness trainer Ashley Eckhoff starting around four weeks postpartum, beginning with breathwork, pelvic floor training, and deep core activation before advancing to low-impact cardio and light resistance work.
Social Media Criticism and the Response from Elsa Hosk
While the brand described the elaborate costume set as some of the grandest ever seen on the runway, Hosk’s strut across the mirrored floor drew mixed reactions and critique from viewers online. One user on Threads shared a video clip of Hosk in her sheer bodysuit and shimmering wings, comparing her movement unfavorably to former Angel Gisele Bündchen and asking how the original star would have managed the footwear and accessories.
Hosk addressed the commentary directly through her Instagram Stories, highlighting the physical reality of managing the oversized costume pieces in high heels.
Also for the people on the internet talking about my walk, it took THREE men to carry these wings and put them on my back. Let that sink in🫶.
Elsa Hosk, via Instagram Stories
Gigi Hadid Defends the Runway Veteran on Threads
Fellow model Gigi Hadid stepped into the online discussion on Threads to push back against the criticism directed at Hosk. Responding to the comparison with earlier generations of models, Hadid pointed out that modern runway designs operate on an entirely different physical scale than the shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s, where icons like Bündchen, Tyra Banks, and Adriana Lima defined the brand’s era.
Gigi Hadid Defends Elsa Hosk Against Criticism of Victoria's Secret Runway Walk https://t.co/rYpgQnd8qV
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. It’s a looong walk in the wings these days ++ they can be 75+lbs, 10+ ft tall, sometimes animatronic, etc. The wings are getting bigger bc the viewers love it & they’re MAJOR but NOT aero dynamic, then add the gust of runway fans!! It takes 3 men to take these wings off of us. Elsa is stunning, strong, & carried these like a boss. Y’all have no clue.
Gigi Hadid, via Threads
As detailed by Us Weekly, Adam Selman, the Chief Creative Officer at Victoria’s Secret & Co., explained the internal engineering of the large accessories in a behind-the-scenes featurette, noting that a welded metal skeleton supports the framework beneath individual fabric feathers to keep the structure intact against runway drafts.
Reflections on Motherhood and the Victoria’s Secret Runway
For Hosk, the October event marked her first appearance for the lingerie brand since 2018, when she wore the Fantasy Bra according to Morning Honey. Her return alongside other postpartum models like Barbara Palvin underscored a broader emphasis on balancing family milestones with high-profile modeling commitments.
Reflecting on her return to the catwalk after welcoming two children, Hosk shared her gratitude with her followers on Instagram, writing that the butterflies never disappear despite appearing in nine separate shows for the brand. Two babies later, walking with these incredible wings — a little reminder that we only get stronger with time, that motherhood adds to who we are, and that age has never been the limit
, she wrote, emphasizing that she takes none of the experience for granted.
Gigi Hadid Defends Elsa Hosk After She’s Criticized for Her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Walk, Despite Wearing 70-Inch Wings https://t.co/3stmKjDpKY
Gigi Hadid is defending Elsa Hosk on Instagram Threads after criticism about her walk at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2026. https://t.co/rXZNFEAEfG