Supermodel Tyra Banks has stirred up excitement among fashion enthusiasts and reality TV fans alike. The iconic “Tyra Mail” from her hit show “America’s Next Top Model” (ANTM) made a comeback in a recent commercial. This time, it’s not just about aspiring models – it’s to herald the return of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Tyra Mail Returns: A Nostalgic Surprise for ANTM Fans
Banks, a former Victoria’s Secret Angel, stars alongside supermodel Gigi Hadid in a new commercial that’s causing quite a stir. The ad, shared on Banks’ Instagram, features Hadid entering a chic building and ringing a bell. Banks, stationed behind a counter, turns with her signature “smize” and hands Hadid a golden envelope – the iconic Tyra Mail.
This time, the envelope contains an exclusive invitation to the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, set to air on October 15. “See you there,” Banks tells Hadid, who walks away brimming with excitement.
Fans couldn’t contain their nostalgia in the comments section. One user wrote, “Wanna Be On Top?! Nah nah nah na na nahhhhh,” mimicking ANTM’s theme song. Another exclaimed, “This is ICONIC.”
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show: The Anticipated Comeback
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is making its return after a five-year hiatus. The brand discontinued the show in 2019 following criticism that also led to the dissolution of the Victoria’s Secret Angel division.
Many fans are speculating whether Banks will walk in this year’s show. Her last appearance on the Victoria’s Secret runway was in 2005. One eager fan commented, “If you walk, I’m gonna cry. Tell me now!”
A New Era for Victoria’s Secret
Victoria’s Secret faced scrutiny in 2020 when a New York Times investigation revealed an alleged culture of misogyny. In response, the brand has taken steps to reinvent itself.
According to the Victoria’s Secret website, the team behind the show has “read the comments and heard” the criticism. They promise that the revived fashion show will “reflect who we are today, plus everything you know and love – the glamour, runway, wings, musical entertainment, and more!”
In 2021, Victoria’s Secret unveiled the VS Collective, a diverse group of seven women including Megan Rapinoe and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. This move aimed to represent a wider range of people, including those with larger body types and trans women.
Tyra Banks: From Angel to Icon
Banks’ involvement in the show’s revival is significant. She was a Victoria’s Secret Angel from 1997 to 2005 and has been a trailblazer in the fashion industry. In a previous Instagram post, Banks reflected on her groundbreaking achievements:
“Within a 10 year span starting in 1995, I was the first Black Victoria’s Secret contract model ever. The first Black Victoria’s Secret cover model. The first Black VS model to do so many other groundbreaking things with the brand.”
